In Arroyo, Sueño Real Means 13 Affordable Housing Units for Seniors

Months of work and technical assistance came to fruition with the redevelopment plan for the abandoned property. From left, Minerva de Jesús, Director of Sueño Real-AMSI; Luis Ortiz Lugo, PR Congressman; Víctor Bilbraut, Municipal Legislator; Jovanna Morales, HUD Multifamily SE Disposition Director; Eric Bachier Román, Mayor of Arroyo; Efrain Maldonado, HUD San Juan Field Office Director; Juan Devarié, Assistant to Arroyo Mayor.

A joint effort between HUD and the Municipality of Arroyo resulted in 13 affordable housing opportunities for elderly individuals and families in the Sueño Real Development in Barrio Guasimas. On September 9, 2022 the Mayor of Arroyo Eric Bachier, HUD San Juan Field Office Director Efrain Maldonado, and the Director of HUD Region IV Multifamily Housing Disposition Office Jovanna Morales, celebrated the acquisition of the Sueño Real houses by the municipality for a nominal fee after a public foreclosure auction. The Municipality of Arroyo will administer these units and provide supportive services for this area where, according to recent Census data, almost 19% of residents under age 65 were reported to have a disability and 60% of the overall population in Arroyo are reported to meet poverty income levels.

For years, this property was abandoned and never occupied by the individuals it was intended to serve and was never able fulfil its purpose for the community. The Sueño Real Development was originally insured by HUD in 2014 under the 811 Capital Advance Program for the disabled. Fortunately, the property received regular maintenance and didn't suffer much damage. Mayor Bachier is proud of this acquisition and plans to rehabilitate the properties and offer them as affordable rentals to the elderly community. After months of technical assistance from the Multifamily Disposition team and local HUD San Juan Office, the Municipality's Housing Department was able to obtain approval of the Redevelopment Plan for Sueño Real. Upon HUD winning the foreclosure auction and transferring the property to Arroyo, the Municipality commits to maintaining these 13 units as affordable housing, which will help ease the demand for affordable rentals in this area.

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