Trujillo Alto Municipio due to its proximity to the Metropolitan Area of San Juan exhibits a significant population growth and economic development. Its economy draws on commercial, construction and service activities. The Carraizo lake and Sergio Cuevas Water Treatment Plant, both located at Trujillo Alto Municipio, provides fresh water for housing connections and economic activities at the Metropolitan Area of San Juan. (refer to Map 1)
Trujillo Alto Municipio Consolidated Plan presents a strategic vision for housing and community development. It includes a One-Year Action Plan for spending $2,243,000 of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Emergency Shelter (ESG) funds in 1995. These funds will primarily be spent on housing and neighborhood liability activities.
The Office of Community Development (OCD) at Trujillo Alto Municipio was
designated by the Mayor as the lead agency in this process. The OCD formed a
task force with Municipio staff personnel and consultants. This task force was
responsible for initiating formal consultation with public and private agencies,
organizations and individuals concerned with various aspects of the Consolidated
Plan. Two public hearings were held after being published in a newspaper of
general circulation. Before the second hearing, and for a 30 days period,
copies of the Consolidated Plan were available for public review and comment.
The plan was adopted by the Mayor on May 15, 1995, and approved by the U.S.
Department of Housing and Development (HUD) on June 30, 1995.
Trujillo Alto Municipio exhibits a significant population growth and economic development. According to the 1990 U.S. Census Data, the population of Trujillo Alto Municipio was 61,120, up 21 percent from 1980 census: by age, 34 percent under 18 years, 59 percent from 18 to 64 years and 7 percent over age 65; by sex, 49 percent males and 51 percent females.
According to the 1990 census, the median family income (MFI) of Trujillo
Alto Municipio is $13,323 while the MFI of all of Puerto Rico is $9,988. In
1990 the per capita's income of Trujillo Alto Municipio is $4,868 while All of
Puerto Rico per capita's income is $4,177. Trujillo Alto Municipio occupies the
third place among the highest per capita's income of Puerto Rico.
Nevertheless, the 1990 census indicates that 70 percent of all households in
Trujillo Alto Municipio are low-and moderate income, with incomes below 80
percent of MFI. Also, 45 percent of poverty universe population of Trujillo
Alto Municipio is below poverty income level. ( refer to MAP 2 and 3)
The housing market of Puerto Rico does not respond to the salaries earned by the very low-and low-income families. This represents a great burden on the net income for the acquisition of a sound, safe and sanitary housing at the housing market. To get a standard housing most families have to pay over 50 percent of their monthly gross income in mortgage payment or rent, including utility costs. Definitely, the cost burden affects their ability to maintain their housing. The probability towards deterioration and dilapidation increases turning the housing unit into a substandard quality environment.
Among the housing needs identified in the Consolidated Plan, increasing the affordability of housing and the rehabilitation of the existing housing stock are priority needs. To address affordable housing needs, rental assistance is needed to alleviate severely cost burden experienced by very low-and low-income households. To address existing housing quality and condition problems funds are needed to help low-income households for the rehabilitation of their homes and the elimination of substandard conditions. Another priority need is to increase the capacity of nonprofit organizations to address the supportive housing needs for persons who are homeless, persons with AIDS and with other special needs (elderly, disable); through the provision of technical assistance and funds.
According to the 1990 Census, the total housing stock at Trujillo Alto Municipio includes 19,315 units, 92 percent of which were occupied. Of the occupied units, 75 percent were owner units and 25 percent were rental-occupied. Of the occupied housing stock 51 percent fall under a low-income bracket. Of the total 1,486 vacant units, 8 percent of the total housing stock, only 343 units were available for rent and 194 units were available for sale, which represents a low vacancy rate for rental units of 2 percent.
Of the total housing stock reported, about 8 percent were classified as substandard and 12 percent in overcrowding conditions.
At present the development and construction of 5,542 housing units are in process. For high and middle income families, there are 4,863 housing units, most of which are walk-up apartments.
Much of the housing units built in the last few years and in the development and construction process at present are beyond the price range of lower-income households. A low vacancy rate for rental units of 2 percent and with little multifamily construction planned, rents are likely to rise faster than incomes.
Households with incomes at or below 50 percent MFI (50 percent of all households) has the greatest housing cost burden. They need rental assistance and affordable housing options, and owners need rehabilitation assistance. Low income first time homebuyers need down payment assistance and credit counseling.
Formal studies to determine the number and need of homeless in Trujillo Alto Municipio have not been conducted, consequently no information is available regarding the characteristics of the homeless. Nevertheless, the Municipio got information from private agencies and organizations and by observation at street level. Private agencies and organizations have reported services to homeless totaling 45 cases and only five cases were reported visible at street level.
Trujillo Alto Municipio has over 2,340 housing units with some type of Federal and Local assistance, 12 percent of the 1990 existing housing stock. Of those units, 952 are public housing, 1,111 units are Section 8 rental units and 277 units under Section 202, for elderly and disable persons. None of the existing units are expected to be lost from the assisted housing inventory. Most of the persons/families assisted under the subsidized housing stock are low-income families, at or below 50 percent of MFI.
At Trujillo Alto Municipio, public housing units are owned by the Commonwealth Government and managed by Private Contractors. Rehabilitation targeted to improve the overall conditions of units and facilities as well to meet Section 504 requirements for disabled is on schedule. Among public housing units, 17 percent are one-bedroom, 43 percent are two-bedroom, 38 percent are three-bedroom and 2 percent have four or more bedrooms.
Among Section 8 units, 43 percent are two-bedroom and 57 percent have three or more bedrooms. At present, the Municipio has no unused rental vouchers or certificates and no vacant units.
In addition to affordable housing, special needs population has the following needs:
Lack of affordable housing is one of the most critical housing problems in Trujillo Alto Municipio. The main factors hindering the production of affordable housing are the tax policies, land use controls, zoning and subdivision regulations, building codes, building fees, environmental requirements, and the uncoordinated construction approval and permits process. These public policies and practices pose significant barriers to affordable housing development.
Trujillo Alto Municipio completed a study of fair housing, submitted to and approved by HUD. Actions are necessary to outreach to lower-income families, promoting greater housing opportunities for families outside areas of low-income concentration, ensuring equal opportunity to applicant for participation in existing assisted housing programs and in the selection of certificate and voucher holders or applicants to be referred to owners of vacant rehabilitated units, and provision of services and assistance to families that allege they have encountered discrimination during their housing search.
Trujillo Alto Municipio has not carried out Lead-Based Paint assessment on housing, either private of public. The Commonwealth's Department of Housing has carried out testing in all their public housing projects. Lead-based paint abatement has been a part of public housing comprehensive modernization activities, since 1992. No cases of childhood lead poisoning were reported in Trujillo Alto Municipio.
According to 1990 Census Trujillo Alto Municipio have an unemployment rate of 13.5 percent. So, developing the skills of low-income persons to meet the requirements of a changing economy is an important long-term need. Community developing needs include the provision of employment to low-income persons, the empowerment and self-sufficiency opportunities for low-income persons, youngster counseling-tutorship and training programs, emergency assistance for at risk families and individuals, and affordable and accessible transportation and infrastructure improvements.
Coordination between public and assisted housing providers, private and
governmental health and social services agencies, is needed for the
affordability of housing and services to low-income families and individuals; to
combat poverty and develop self-sufficiency in welfare recipients; and to study
service delivery problems and allocation of resources.
The Strategic Plan of Trujillo Alto Municipio has the main objective to reduce the poor housing conditions for low-and very-low income householders, either homeowners or renters. The second objective is the improvement of the community base public services and facilities. The general goals, as to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment and expanding economic opportunities.
Trujillo Alto Municipio housing objectives focus on the provision of assisted housing to low and moderate-income families and individuals, on the retention of the affordable housing stock in standard conditions and on the improving of the quality of existing emergency shelters for the homeless. Community development objectives are to improve the safety and liability of neighborhoods, to provide access to quality public and private facilities and services, the provision of jobs involved in carrying out activities under programs covered by the Consolidated Plan to low-income persons living in those areas affected by those programs and activities, and the empowerment and self-sufficiency opportunities for low-income persons to reduce generational poverty. An estimated total amount of $20.932 millions is needed to address the priority needs in the Consolidated Plan.
Priorities for affordable housing include the provision of rental assistance to alleviate severely cost burden experienced by very low-income families and individuals, provision of grants to owner-occupant households for the rehabilitation and improvement of their housing and the elimination of substandard conditions, and provision of assistance for relocation of families living in hazardous areas.
Priorities for homeless alleviation include increasing the capacity on nonprofit organizations to address the supportive housing needs of families/individuals who are homeless, with AIDS and other special needs (elderly, handicapped), through the provision of technical assistance and funds.
Priorities for community development include public facilities improvements (parks, recreation and neighborhood buildings), infrastructure improvements (road, street, flood drain and sewer), and public services provision (public health and youth).
Trujillo Alto Municipio is impeded to establish an effective policy to carry out an anti-poverty strategy because of the control of the Commonwealth Government agencies providing welfare, education, and job training programs and control of policies in economy and labor market. Nonetheless, the Municipio has economic development activities to make use of the limited resources available to enhance the low-income families potential to become self-sufficient, and to promote the development of business enterprises.
Trujillo Alto Municipio resources for the achievement of the Consolidated Plan include three federal and two local funding programs. The Federal resources include CDBG, Section 8, and Emergency Shelter grant programs. Local resources include special funds and loans.
The Commonwealth Government controls all the regulatory agencies related to
housing and community development activities. This excessive control allows
them to establish a decision making process that affects the Trujillo Alto
Municipio performance in its development activities: needs, objectives and
priorities on the Consolidated Plan are affected in the carry out process. Some
gaps in the delivery of services are noted because of the lack of coordination
efforts. To achieve goals and to attain success in the carry out process,
coordination efforts are necessary between the Municipio, Commonwealth's
agencies and private entities and organizations.
The Trujillo Alto Municipio One-Year Action Plan outlines the proposed use of $2.243 million in CDBG and Emergency Shelter Grants funds. These funds will be spent mainly on community development activities, including two projects on housing activities, as follows:
The projects in the One-Year Plan are located, mainly, in urbanized residential areas of high population or housing unit density. Funds allocated to these areas are spent mostly on parks, recreational and neighborhood facilities. The Emergency Shelter Grants funds are allocated to nonprofit-profit organizations that provides essential services to homeless individuals and other with special needs.
Trujillo Alto Municipio housing goals for the first year include the retention of the affordable housing stock in standard conditions through rehabilitation of 70 housing units, improving the quality of existing emergency shelters that provides essential services to 71 homeless individuals and other with special needs, and providing rental assistance for 100 households.
The Department of Housing at Trujillo Alto Municipio is the lead agency to carry out the housing activities, rehabilitation of housing units and providing rental assistance to households. The office of Community Development is the lead agency to carry out community development activities and for the allocation of funds to nonprofit-profit organizations that provide emergency shelter services.
MAP 2 depicts points of interest and low-moderate income areas.
MAP 3 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, and unemployment levels.
TABLE (without associated map) provides information about the project(s).
Mr. Angel Rodriguez, P.E.
Director of Federal Programs
Trujillo Alto Municipio, Puerto Rico 00907
Phone Number: (809) 761- 1910
