HUD team returns to Puerto Rico to observe its progress towards recovery

HUD Executive team with local counterparts during Puerto Rico's after Hurricane Maria recovery visit. From left, Efrain Maldonado, HUD Puerto Rico Field Office Director; Dennis Gonzalez, PR Department of Housing Disaster Recovery Deputy Secretary; Steven Rawlinson, HUD CPD Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Development; Irving Dennis, HUD CFO; Denise Cleveland-Leggett, HUD Southeast Regional Administrator; Mercedes Rivera, CAUCE Executive Director; Rahaf Kaylani, HUD Senior Financial Operations Analyst.

Puerta de Tierra is an example of how HUD CDBG-DR funds could be used in conjunction with Low-Income Housing Tax Credits to address the extensive rehabilitation needs of public housing and multifamily properties across the island.

A HUD Executive team including CFO Irving Dennis, Southeast Regional Administrator Denise Cleveland-Leggett, and CPD Principal Assistant Secretary David Woll visited Puerto Rico last week to assess current needs, recovery progress after Hurricane Maria, and to discuss Puerto Rico's internal controls and oversight of HUD funds.

The group toured Puente Blanco, a community located in an area highly susceptible to flooding, heavily damaged by the storm. Their leaders are now working with a whole community engagement method to plan for its long-term solutions. They also visited Puerta de Tierra, an example of how CDBG-DR funds could be used in conjunction with Low-Income Housing Tax Credits to address the extensive rehabilitation needs of public housing and multifamily properties across the island.

Regional Administrator Cleveland-Leggett was very encouraged. "The commitment and passion of the HUD team in San Juan, and their robust working relationship with the Puerto Rico Department of Housing signal a strong foundation for our shared goal of a more resilient and prosper community," said Cleveland Leggett. "The people from Puerto Rico have in HUD a steadfast partner that will remain by their side all the way."

A key stop of their visit was to Río Piedras, a city composed of several neighborhoods with high levels of poverty, economic distress and vulnerability, that is in need of comprehensive revitalization. Economic Development will be key to their recovery. HUD funds could potentially be used for the demolition of substandard structures, rehabilitation of buildings and public infrastructure improvements to create the proper environment for the return of commercial activities.

Learn more about CDBG-DR and the State's role in long-term disaster recovery (https://youtu.be/Lrmwz8IXXdQ) (en español) (www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uuy63y45L7s).

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