The Department yesterday announced that it has entered into a voluntary compliance agreement with the Puerto Rico Public Housing Administration to make more than 2,800 fully accessible public housing units available to residents with disabilities. The conversion must be completed by August, 2010.
The Department's on-site review documented significant deficiencies related to the physical accessibility of the common areas and individual housing units as well as deficiencies in the PRPHA's policies and procedures.
Among other things, the PRPHA has agreed to:
Convert the units at the rate of 303 for the first two years of the agreement, and at the rate of 500 units per year for the third through seventh years of this agreement.
Ensure that its non-housing facilities, such as management offices, laundry rooms, community and day care centers and recreation rooms, are accessible to persons with disabilities.
Computerize its waiting and tenant lists, and post its waiting list on a website so that applicants can track their status. The Housing Authority will also provide each regional office with a dedicated computer to enable applicants to track their status.
The PRPHA oversees some 56,000 units in 52 towns throughout the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Anyone who believes they have experienced housing discrimination should call HUD's Housing Discrimination Hotline at 1 (800) 669-9777, or visit HUD's fair housing website.