HUD DESIGNATES PUERTO RICO ENVISION CENTER IN PONCE
Centros Sor Isolina Ferré, first Puerto Rico EnVision Center selected to serve as a hub to help low-income families become self-sufficient

PONCE, PR - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Southeast Regional Administrator Denise Cleveland-Leggett today officially designated Centros Sor Isolina Ferré in Ponce an EnVision Center. This designation serves as a critical component of Secretary Ben Carson's signature EnVision Center initiative to offer a more holistic housing approach by connecting HUD-assisted families with the tools they need.

"Sor Isolina Ferré Centers embody Secretary Carson's vision of hope and holistic approach to help more families become self-sufficient," said HUD Southeast Regional Administrator Denise Cleveland-Leggett. "They offer an effective combination to promote leadership, supportive services and opportunities for education and job training that have positively changed the trajectory of many youth and their families. I am pleased to bring the EnVision Center designation during the celebration of its 50th anniversary."

Following a highly competitive selection process, Centros Sor Isolina Ferré in Ponce was selected to spearhead the EnVision Center initiative. The designation is one of the newest of only 34 communities designated across the country as an EnVision Center, and the first in Puerto Rico.

"We are very proud to be the first organization designated as an EnVision Center in Puerto Rico," said Sor Isolina Ferré CEO Luis E. Ortíz. "This important designation recognizes our work of 50 years in favor of the communities with greatest need and will open doors to benefits and relationships to expand the services to our participants." Located on or near public housing developments, EnVision Centers are centralized hubs that serve as an incubator to support four key pillars of self-sufficiency- (1) Economic Empowerment, (2) Educational Advancement, (3) Health and Wellness, and (4) Character and Leadership.

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