Public housing in Puerto Rico is a subsidized system of housing units, mostly consisting of housing projects (Residenciales, Barriadas, or Caserios Publicos, in Spanish), which are provided for low-income families in Puerto Rico. The system is mainly financed with programs from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). There are 322 public housing developments in Puerto Rico.
Video Public housing in Puerto Rico
Introduction
Neighborhoods in Puerto Rico are often divided into three types: barrio, urbanización (urbanization) and residencial público (public housing). An urbanización is a type of housing where land is developed into lots, often by a private developer, and where single-family homes are built. More recently, non single-family units, such as condominiums and townhouses are being built which also fall into this category. (In Puerto Rico, a condominiun is a housing unit located in a high-rise building. It is popularly called an "apartamento", or, alternatively, "apartamiento" (English: apartment), whether or not its resident owns the unit or lives it as a renter.) Public housing, on the other hand, are housing units built with government funding. These have traditionally consisted multi-family dwellings in housing complexes called a Barriada or a Caserío Publico (and more recently a Residencial), and where all exterior grounds consist of shared areas. Increasingly, however, public housing developments are being built that consist of other than the traditional multi-family dwellings with all exterior grounds consisting of shared outside area, for example, public housing may consist of single family garden apartments units. Finally, a home that is located in neither an urbanizacion nor of a public housing development is said to be located in (and to be a part of) a barrio. In Puerto Rico, a "barrio" also has a second and very different meaning official meaning: the geographical area into which a municipios is divided for official administrative purposes. In this sense, urbanizaciones as well as public housing developments (as well as one or several "barrios" in the popular sense) may be located in one of these 901 official geographic areas.
Maps Public housing in Puerto Rico
History
Puerto Rico's Department of Housing, created in the 1970s, succeeded the Urban Renewal and Housing Corporation, or Corporación de Renovación Urbana y Vivienda (CRUV, its Spanish acronym), which was created in the late 1950s to succeed the Puerto Rico Housing Authority, created by Gov. Luis Muñoz Marín and headed by César Cordero Dávila, to consolidate several state and municipal housing agencies. Puerto Rico Housing and CRUV were responsible for the design and construction of many of the older "residenciales" in Puerto Rico. The first three public housing developments, Ponce De Leon, Santiago Iglesias and Caribe, are located in the city of Ponce. Henry Klumb provided early support for those efforts and one of his protégés, George McClintock was the first Architect-in-Chief of Puerto Rico Housing in the early-to-mid 1950's. Among Klumb's designs are the 1945 design work for the Cataño, San Lorenzo, Lares and Aguadilla Puerto Rico Housing projects, Naranjito Public Housing Project in 1957, Comerío Public Housing Project in 1958, and Residencial Las Virtudes, designed and built between 1969 ad 1976. Klumb had previously done work for several municipal housing agencies, including Mayagüez' and Ponce's.
In 1973, José Enrique Arrarás became the first Secretary of Housing. He was appointed by Gov. Rafael Hernández Colón.
Organization
Operating funds are provided by HUD for tenant rent subsidizing and for the construction, acquisition, maintenance, and operations of public housing projects, which are in turn administered by several entities throughout the island called Public Housing Agencies (PHAs). The main Public Housing Agency in Puerto Rico is the Public Housing Administration (Administración de Vivienda Pública, or AVP, in Spanish) under the Puerto Rico Department of Housing (Departamento de Vivienda in Spanish). Other Public Housing Agencies include certain municipalities which are authorized by HUD and commonwealth law to operate housing projects independent of the main state PHA. All PHAs can contract a Management Agent (usually a for-profit enterprise) to manage day-to-day operations, including processing tenant complaints, housing unit repairs, and overall project maintenance.
HUD also allows private non-profit organizations and for-profit enterprises to manage housing projects as PHAs, offering program funding and tax incentives (Tax Credit Projects) in order to compensate for operating costs. However, these types of public housing projects are not as common in Puerto Rico as those which are managed by the state.
The PHA is responsible for providing adequate living arrangements for program tenants, in compliance with Uniform Physical Condition Standards (UPCS) (formerly Housing Quality Standards (HQS)) set by HUD. Additionally, the PHA must manage all federal funds received in an efficient and reasonable way, in compliance with HUD prescribed guidelines and with Chapter 24 of the US Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Management Agents are also required to comply with these standards. The USDA provides federal loan programs (including direct loans or loan guarantees) to PHAs for the construction of new public housing projects or acquisition of existing living complexes to convert into public projects.
Eligible tenants
The tenant rent subsidizing system allows low-income and impoverished individuals and families to reside in a subsidized housing unit just as long as their income status complies with federal regulations (but no family assistance has ever been terminated because of excess of income limit). Families wanting to participate must first be included in a Waiting List, which includes all citizens applying for subsidized housing by order of application date. Families must therefore "wait until their turn" for eligibility as the PHA selects families by that order, a process which in Puerto Rico may take several years. Applicants must provide evidence of low-income status (HUD recommends a copy of a filed income tax return) and are Given a housing unit for which HUD will subsidize its rent.
Criticism
Supporters of the system argue that Puerto Rico's annual income per person is $12,000 (2004), a figure which is much lower than in the United States and which explains why a relatively larger portion of the island population participates in the system.
List of public housing projects in Puerto Rico
The following is a list of public housing projects located in Puerto Rico, and includes those that are managed by the Government of Puerto Rico, by municipalities, and by private non-profit and for-profit entities:
Adjuntas
- Villa Valle Verde
- Alturas de Adjuntas
Aguadilla
- Jose A.Aponte
- Agustin Stahl
- Las Muñecas
- Cuesta Vieja
- Juan Garcia Ducos
- La Montaña
- Muñeki Apartments I y II
- Puesta del Sol
- Bernardino Villanueva
- José de Diego
- Villamar
Aibonito
- Liborio Ortiz
- Villas de la Rosa
- Golden Village
- Villa Verde
Añasco
- Francisco Figueroa
Arecibo
- Trina Padilla de Sanz
- Ramon Marin Sola
- EXT. MANUEL ZENO GANDIA
- Bella Vista
- Antonio Marquez Arbona
- La Meseta
- El Cotto
- Villa de los Santos I
- Villa de los Santos II
Barceloneta
- Antonio Dávila Freytes
- Plazuela Catalina
- Quintas de Barceloneta
Barranquitas
- Villa Universitaria
- Reparto San Antonio
Bayamón
- Valencia
- La Alhambra
- Alturas de Bayamón
- Jardines de Caparra
- José Celso Barbosa
- La Alegría Apts
- Las Gardenias
- Los Dominicos
- Magnolia Gardens
- MonteRey
- Rafael "Falín" Torrech
- San Fernando
- Sierra Linda
- Virgilio Dávila
- Bella Vista Heights
- Brisas de Bayamon
- Bayamón Country Club (Sold for private housing)
- Bayamon Housing
- Miraflores II & III
- Santa Catalina
- Los Laureles
- Campo Verde
Caguas
- Juan Jimenez Garcia
- Turabo Heights
- Raul Castellon
- Brisas del Turabo I y II
- Villa del Rey 2
- Jardines de Condado Moderno
- Bonneville Heights
- Jardines de San Carlos
- Torre de Tokio
- Balcones las Catalinas
- Ext. La Granja
- Brisas de San Alfonso
- Savarona
- Villas de castro Gardens
- Villa Blanca
- El Mirador
- Caguax
- Barrio Tomas de Castro
Canovanas
- Jesús T. Piñero
- Alborada
Carolina
- Torres De Sabana Antiguas
- Sabana Abajo
- Felipe Sanchez Osorio
- Los Mirtos
- Los Naranjales
- Lagos de Blasina
- Vista mar Plaza
- Alturas de Country club
- Loma Alta
- El Coral
- Las Carolinas
- Catañito Gardens
- El Faro (Carolina walkup)
- La Esmeralda
- Roberto Clemente
- Row Houses
- Carolina Housing
- Monserrate Towers
- I.C.U Pegloe.
- Santa Catalina
- Parque Ecuestre
Cataño
- Juana Matos I, II & III
- El Coquí I
- Rosendo Matienzo Citron
- Las Palmas
- Jardines de Cataño
- Las Vegas
- Angelies Apartments
Cayey
- Brisas de Cayey
- Jardines de Montellano
- Luis Muñoz Morales
- Beningo Fernandez Garcia
- Alturas De Montellano
- Jardines De Buena Vista
- Los Laureles
PRIVATIZADO
- Las Muesas
Ciales
- Brisas de Ciales
- Jaguas
- Fernando Sierra Berdecia
- Dos Ríos
- Alturas de Ciales
Cidra
- Praxedes Santiago
- Jardines de Cidra
- Cidra Housing
Coamo
- San Antonio
- Jardin Del Eden
Corozal
- Alturas de Cibuco
- Enrique Landrón
Dorado
- Manuel Morales
Fajardo
- Veve Calzada
- Puerto Real
- Valle Puerto Real
- Pedro Rosario Nieves
Florida
- Florida Housing
- Villas de Florida
Guayama
- Luis Palés Matos
- Jardines Guamani
- Carioca
- Calimano
- Valles
Guayanilla
- Padre Nazario - named after José M. Nazario y Cancel, a Catholic priest and amateur archeologist that discovered the Nazario Collection.
- Bahía
Guaynabo
- Jardines de Guaynabo
- La Rosaleda
- Rafael Martinez Nadal
- Villas de Mabo
- Zenon Diaz Varcarcel
- Flambo
- Hannia Maria Apartments
Alejandrino
Gurabo
- Luis del Carmen Echevarrias
Hormigueros
- Gabriel Soler Catalá
Humacao
- Antonio Roig
- Jardines del Oriente
- Padre Rivera
- DR. Palou
Juana Díaz
- Kennedy
- Villas del Parque
- Leonardo Santiago
Juncos
- Colinas de Magnolia
- Antulio Lopez
- Narcizo Varona
- Sanabria
- Palou Castro
Lares
- Casa Castañer
- Residencial Dr. Sein
Las Piedras
- Jardines de Yudelly
- Dorilinda
- LA RIBERA
Loíza
- Yuquiyu
- San Patricio
- Castor Ayala
- Loíza Gardens
- Jardines
Luquillo
- Diego Zalduondo
- Yuquiyu
- EL CEMI
Manatí
- Los Murales
- Enrique Zorrilla Norma
- Brisas de Campo Alegre
- Plaza Apartments
- Villa Evangelina
- Vistas de Atenas
Mayagüez
- Candelaria
- Kennedy
- Columbus Landing
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Eleonor Roosvelt
- Sabalos Gardens
- Cuesta Las Piedras
- Manuel Hernandez Rosa
- El Carmen
- Rafael Hernandez
- Mar y Sol
- Ext. Sabalos Gardens
- Ramirez de Arellano
- Monte Isleño
- Jardines de Concordia
- Mayagüez Gardens
- Flamboyan Gardens
- Parque Sultana
- Mayagüez Housing
- La Arboleda
- Yagüez
- Igualdad
- Marini
- Jardines de Mayagüez
- Villas de Mayagüez
Moca
- Moca Housing
- Jose N. Gandara
Morovis
- Thomas Maria Sorolla
Naguabo
- Ignacio Morales Davila
- Villa del Rio
- Torres del Rio
- Hucares 1 y 2
- Naguabo Valley
Ponce
- Residencial Aristides Chavier
- Residencial Canas Housing
- Residencial Caribe
- Copper View
- Gianna Laura Apartments
- Residencial Dr. Gándara
- Residencial Las Delicias
- Residencial Perla del Caribe (Los Claveles)
- Perla del Bucaná
- Residencial Ernesto Ramos Antonini ( Pampano )
- Residencial Dr. Pila
- Golden View
- Las Americas Housing
- Villa Machuelo
- Miramar Housing
- Residencial La Ceiba
- Hogares del Portugués
- Residencial Lirios del Sur
- Residencial Los Rosales
- Cooperativa de Vivienda La Ceiba
- Residencial Ponce de León
- Ponce Housing
- Portugues
- Residencial Rafael López Nussa
- San Luis Apartments
- Residencial Rosaly
- Residencial Santiago Iglesias
- Silver Valley
- Residencial Tibes
- Residencial Tormos Diego
- Villas del Caribe
- Villa Elena
Quebradillas
- Francisco Vigo Salas
- Guarionex
Río Grande
- Galateo
- Jose H. Ramirez
Sabana Grande
- José A Castillo
San Germán
- Las Lomas
- El Recreo
- Manuel F. Rossy
San Juan
- Brisas de Cupey
- Las Acacias (Demolished in 2000)
- Luis Lloréns Torres (Sections: Providencia, El Medio, Youth Center) (Largest Public Housing Project in Puerto Rico)
- Jardines de Monte Hatillo
- Manuel A. Perez
- Nemesio R. Canales
- Jardines de Selles
- Residencial Berwind (Only two towers were public housing/ demolished in May 1998)
- Lopez Sicardo
- Vista Hermosa
- Villa España
- Las Gladiolas (demolished on July 25, 2011)
- Puerta De Tierra
- El Prado
- Las Dalias
- Bahía
- Las Margaritas I, II y III
- San juan Bautista
- Park Court
- Juan César Cordero Dávila (Quintana)
- El Trébol
- Emiliano Pol
- Los Flamboyanes
- El Prado
- Ernesto Ramos Antonini
- Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas
- Jardines de Campo Rico
- Jardines de Cupey
- Jardines de Country Club
- Jardines del Paraiso
- Jardines de la Nueva Puerta de San Juan
- La Orquídea
- La Perla Del Caribe
- La Rosa
- Leopoldo Figueroa
- Los Peña
- Monte Hatillo
- Monte Park
- Parque de San Agustín
- Jardines de Quintana
- San Agustin
- San Antonio
- San Fernando
- Santa Elena
- San Martín
- Valles de Berwind
- Villa Kennedy
- Villa Olímpica
- Antigua Via (currently transitioning to private owners)
- Los Lirios(Santurce)
- Los Lirios(Cupey)
- Los Laureles
- El Manantial
- Villa Esperanza
- villa Andalucia
- Villa Palmera
- Alturas de Cupey
- Manuel A. Perez
San Lorenzo
- Lorenzana
- Hato Grande
San Sebastian
- Andres Mendez Liciaga/San Sebastian Court
- San Andres
Toa Alta
- Ramon Perez
- Piñas
- Jardines de San Fernando
- Sheila
Toa Baja
- El Toa
- Angel E. Melecio
- Campanilla
- Villa del Sabana
- Villas Del Campanero
Trujillo Alto
- Nuestra Señora de Covadonga.
- Los Rosales
- Pedro Regalado Diaz
- Torres Los Cedros
- Los Claveles
- Los Laureles
- Los Cedros
Villalba
- Efraín Suárez
- Jardines Del Paraiso
- Maximino Miranda
Yabucoa
- Dr. Victor Berrios
Yauco
- Mont Blanc
- Santa Catalina Nuevo Nombre "Ana Catalina Rodríguez Velez"
- Yauco Housing
Vega Alta
- El Batey
- Alturas de Monte Verde
- Las Violetas
- Francisco Vega Sanchez
Vega Baja
- Enrique Catoni
Vieques
- Jardines de Vieques
Public Housing Authorities
Public Housing Authorities are government agencies designated by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development to administer federally subsidized housing units.
- Source: Public Housing Agency (HA) Profiles, US Department of Housing and Urban Development
See also
- Public housing
- Section 8 (housing)
Notes
References
- Klumb: An Architecture of Social Concern, 2006, UPR Press, ISBN 0-8477-2754-8
External links
- US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) official website
- Puerto Rico Department of Housing (Dept. de Vivienda) official website (in Spanish)
- US Department of Agriculture (USDA) official website
- Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA), official website which provides information on all US domestic federal programs, including those of HUD and the USDA
- OMB Circular A-133 of the United States Office of Management and Budget, which provides details and insight on HUD program operations and compliance requirements.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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