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SAN JUAN FIELD OFFICE

HUD CARIBBEAN BULLETIN

Serving Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands

2024 Mid Fiscal Year in Review

A Message from the San Juan Field Office Director Efrain Maldonado

Dear HUD Partners, Greetings from the San Juan Field Office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which serves the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. I am excited to share with you this Caribbean Bulletin, which aims to present information on significant activities undertaken by HUD's San Juan Field Office and our local partners that are having a significant impact in our communities. Throughout the newsletter you will also find links to help you navigate the various resources on HUD programs, future training opportunities and funding announcements. As you will see, this first half of Fiscal Year 2024 has been full of fieldwork, workshops, technical assistance, management initiatives, significant funding, federal opportunities, collaborations with local and federal agencies, and continued accomplishments moving forward with various Secretarial priorities. We hope you enjoy this highlight review for this part of Fiscal Year 2024, and we look forward to continuing working together with our local partners and stakeholders to accomplish greater things for our beautiful territories and their wonderful people.

FEATURED STORY

HUD San Juan Field Office Director, Efrain Maldonado (second from right), and HUD appraiser, Yoel Sanchez (second from left) discussing condo financing and providing guidance at the National Association of Real Estate Professionals.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

• Featured Stories

  • San Juan Walks the Extra Mile to Increase Number of FHA-Approved Condominiums in Puerto Rico

  • Successful TA Session by the Office of Disaster Recovery in the U.S. Virgin Islands

  • 2023 SOMOS Conference in Puerto Rico: “Strengthening & Supporting Our Communities”

  • Public and Indian Housing Celebrates the Grand Opening of Housing Developments 

  • San Juan Multifamily: Sharing Experiences and Maximizing Resources

• Photo & Video Gallery: Important Accomplishments

• Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Island Other News

• HUD Announcements

• HUD Funding Opportunities

• Upcoming Trainings and Events

Successful TA Session by the Office of Disaster Recovery in the U.S. Virgin Islands

CPD Specialist, Mitchelle Mendez providing Disaster Recovery TA for VIHFA staff

On January 31^st and February 1^st, 2024, the Community Planning and Development-Office of Disaster Recovery (ODR)-Caribbean Region staff had a productive experience offering Technical Assistance (TA) to the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority staff (VIHFA)  in St. Thomas. This event gathered the participation of over 40 VIHFA staff members, some of whom flew from the neighbor island of St. Croix to participate. During the two-day training session, staff offered specialized presentations on topics such as Internal Controls, Procurement and Subrecipient Management and Contracts.

On the first day of training, the morning session focused on Internal Controls and Procurement process. From the Internal controls’ perspective, Financial Analyst Al Molina focused his discussion on Legal Requirements, Risk Management, and Internal Control Reviews, among others. On the Procurement side, Senior CPD Specialist Belmari Quiles held discussions on Reasonable Costs, Independent Cost Estimates (ICE) and Non-Competitive Proposals. 

During the afternoon session, CPD Specialist Maria del Carmen Figueroa, discussed the topic of Subrecipient Management, offering insightful recommendations on Subrecipient Compliance, Federal Compliance and Labor Standards. The afternoon discussion was followed by the presentation of CPD Specialist Mitchelle Méndez, who offered precise guidance on Contract Management practices. The day finished with a session led by CPD Specialist Ada Ortiz on writing strong Subrecipient Agreements. 

The CPD-ODR staff took an innovative approach during the second day of the Technical Assistance (TA), leading four (4) simultaneous round table discussions in the offices of VIHFA staff. During these round tables, in-depth discussions were held on procurement policy, finances, compliance, monitoring and Electrical Grid funding. Additionally, a virtual TA session was provided to VIHFA staff on the applicability of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Act (URA) requirements. 

Kudos to the CPD-ODR & VIHFA teams for coming together on this event!

From left to right, Senior CPD Specialist Belmari Quiles, CPD Specialist Ada Ortiz, Financial Analyst Al Molina, CPD-ODR, San Juan Field Office Coordinator Laura Rivera, CPD Specialist, Maria del Carmen Figueroa, CPD Specialist Mitchelle Mendez.

2023 SOMOS Conference in Puerto Rico: “Strengthening & Supporting Our Communities”

HUD Assistant Deputy Secretary, Michelle Perez (4th from left to right) at SOMOS panel "Worker Power Knows No Bounds: a look at workforce Development and the labor movement in Puerto Rico", alongside NY Senator Jessica Ramos Therese Daly, Deputy Director at NYATEP; Debbie Roman, Managing Director at PER SCHOLAS; Rosemary Avila Executive Director CNY Works; Anna Nowlan Internatioanl Cinematographers Guild.

The SOMOS 2023 Conference took place in Puerto Rico in November, with a participation of 2,300 people. SOMOS is a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization that unites the Latino community, raises awareness, advocates and elevates social consciousness on public policy in collaboration with the New York State Assembly/Senate Puerto Rican & Hispanic Task Force.

The theme of the SOMOS conference was “Strengthening & Supporting Our Communities;” and its agenda consisted of several workshops covering topics ranging from health care, housing, economic independence, worker empowerment, voting rights, and other important topics that impact New York, Puerto Rico & the Diaspora. Among the attendees were New York State and Puerto Rico elected and appointed officials, federal and local agency officials and members of various community and labor organizations and unions.

HUD principals participated in two panels focusing on worker empowerment alongside nonprofits, Public Housing Authorities, and other federal and local agencies. The first panel was focused on Section 3 and titled “Empowering Public Housing Residents: Unlocking the Transformative Power of HUD Section 3”; this panel was moderated by NY assembly member Amanda Septimo. The second panel was titled “Worker Power Knows No Bounds: a look at workforce Development and the labor movement in Puerto Rico” and was moderated by NY Senator Jessica Ramos.

HUD representatives highlighted the role and importance of empowering low-income workers and HUD assistance beneficiaries with jobs where HUD funds are being used. This effort is known as Section 3.  Maretzie Diaz, Deputy Secretary of Disaster Recovery for the Puerto Rico Department of Housing highlighted the Section 3 efforts in Puerto Rico tied to the HUD Disaster Recovery and Mitigation funds. The SOMOS conference closed on its final day with a "Day of Service" for all participants. One of the options was joining a Section 3 Training in Spanish for Residents at Public Housing Complex Luis Llorens Torres. This training was coordinated by the HUD San Juan Field Policy and Management team in collaboration with the Puerto Rico Department of Housing Section 3 Office and local community resident groups.

Public and Indian Housing Celebrates the Grand Opening of Housing Developments 

Dominique Blom, General Deputy Assistant Secretary (GDAS) for the Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH) and the San Juan Field Office PIH team celebrated the grand opening of Puerto Rico’s Verde Real public housing development and the Senior Residences at Emerald Vistas.  After the devastation of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, Puerto Rico has been responding to the urgent need for high-quality and resilient affordable housing.  Verde Real’s 43 brand new units provide permanent housing for residents displaced by Hurricane Maria. Emerald Vistas is a 438-unit mixed-income development and the first affordable rental housing development in Puerto Rico to use HUD CDBG-Disaster Recovery funding. It consists of a 200-unit senior building, 238 family units, and amenities for residents of all ages. It is built to withstand Category 5 hurricanes, and its sustainable design achieved a Silver level of the National Green Building Standard (NGBS). During her visit, GDAS Blom visited the Head Start and medical program for newborns and infants at the Manuel A. Pérez public housing development, a HOPE VI redevelopment completed in 2017, and toured its vocational and technical education center. PIH looks forward to continued collaboration with the Puerto Rico Public Housing Administration, Puerto Rico Department of Housing, and other local and federal agencies to support investment in vibrant, resilient communities in the Caribbean.

GDAS Blom with residents from Manuel A. Pérez public housing development touring the vocational and technical education center developed with HOPE VI funding.

San Juan Multifamily: Sharing Experiences and Maximizing Resources

Ryder Assisted Care II; HUD Project Rental Assistance Contracts (PRAC) 811 property

Since November 2023, San Juan Multifamily staff have conducted 16 site visits to Multifamily properties in Puerto Rico and scheduled two for the U.S. Virgin Islands.  Onsite visits are designed to obtain a limited snapshot of the property with the purpose of preventing issues from escalating.

On January 23, 2024, José L. Castrillo, Clarimarie Mullen and Sorayanmarie Sáez, from the San Juan Multifamily Office, conducted two Management Occupancy Reviews (MOR) and one site visit in the east area of the island.  The MOR was conducted at two (2) HUD Project Rental Assistance Contracts (PRAC) 811 properties, Ryder Assisted Care I and Ryder Assisted Care II. The site visit was conducted at Ryder Home for the Elderly, a Section 8 housing assistance property. MORs are designed to obtain an in-depth look at the property including but not limited to occupancy, unit turn around, physical status of the property including common spaces and units, staffing levels, interview of some tenants and staff, files reviews.

As part of the collaborative strategy, the team assumed various roles. For instance, José conducted a walk through the common areas, inspected the sample units, interviewed tenants, confirmed REAC findings, crosschecked reserve for replacement releases, verified maintenance and appliances inventory, EIV master files, checked for the safeguard of files and PII, spot checked petty cash, and confirmed that all required information is openly displayed to tenants and visitants.  Meanwhile, Clarimarie and Sorayanmarie engaged in the review of tenants’ and units’ files, interviewed the Site Manager, and debriefed the property while suggesting steps for improvement. In addition, on January 31, 2024 the Multifamily team held a Round Table Training on the topics of Time Management, One Note, Power BI Reports for Prioritizing Workload.

PHOTO & VIDEO GALLERY: IMPORTANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Irma G. Perez-Pillot, Senior Investigator/Senior Equal Opportunity Specialist at the Office of Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity provided training on Fair Housing and Reasonable Accommodations to 40+ employees from City of Bayamón.

USVI celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony the completed renovations on the first 82 units of thefor the Walter IM Hodge Pavilion in Frederiksted, St. Croix. USVI Governor Albert Bryan Jr joined the Virgin Islands Housing Authority, Office of Disaster Recovery, J. Benton Construction, and other development partners in the ribbon cutting ceremony.

HUD Community Planning and Dev. PDAS Marion McFadden, Office of Disaster Recovery Laura Rivera, and Field Office Director Efrain Maldonado met with Carlos Jirau, Director of CONSUR and with representatives from the municipalities of Ponce, Peñuelas, Guayanilla, Yauco, Guanica, and Lajas, on their progress in recovering after the 2019 earthquakes.

HUD Senior Advisor for Puerto Rico, Rosanna Torres Pizarro, welcomed 150+ community and local leaders to a two-day Homeless Summit to discuss best practices, challenges, and coordinated efforts needed to end Homelessness.

Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman visited Mirador Las Casas Apartments a 294-unit apartment complex being renovated with HUD disaster recovery funds. This project will bring updated, affordable rental homes for hundreds of families in San Juan.

Senior CPD Specialist of the Office of Disaster Recovery, Belmari Quiles provides presentation on Disaster Recovery and Community Resilience at the EPA Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers Conference in San Juan Puerto Rico

The Distressed Cities Technical Assistance Program kicked off the FY2024 with a workshop on the role of municipalities in affordable housing development based on needs, trends and challenges. Seventeen municipalities from around the island attendedand the Mun. of Caguas presented its development strategy.

Single-Family Housing Program Specialist, Aixa Bastar, and Field Policy and Management Program Analyst, Adriana Grau at the HUD booth for the P.R. Realtors 70th Convention. Over 200 participats were provided orientation on HUD resources for realestate professionals, homeowners, and homebuyers.

HUD Community Planning and Development Principal Deputy Asistant Secretary (PDAS) Marion Mc McFadden and Deputy Asisstant Secretary (DAS) Claudia Monterrosa welcomed grantees to a workshop on CDBG funds for housing rehabilitation a the San Juan Field Office.

Magaly Méndez, Management Analyst for the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes providing Lead Hazard Education for over 115 teachers in the Puerto Rico Head Start Programs.

Acting Secretary of HUD, Adrianne Todman provided opening remarks for the Puerto Rico Builders Association Convention in San Juan Puerto Rico. Afterwards, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research, Solomon Greene, participated in a panel on the topic of Income Limits for Puerto Rico.

HUD’s Distressed Cities and Persistent Poverty Technical Assistance program is designed to assist small local governments build effective financial performance. Participating communities in Puerto Rico met in HUD San Juan Field Office for quarterly meeting on the topic of Community Development Block Grants also known as CDBG.

PDAS McFadden (4thfrom left) joined PR Governor Pierluisi, Housing Sec. William Rodriguez, and local leaders at Vista al Norte; future home of 102 low and moderate income families. Vista al Norte located in Guaynabo includes $28.5 million in HUD CDBG-DR funds. Completion of the project is expected by Dec. 2025.

The San Juan Field Office joined efforts for the combined federal campaign and collected in-kind donations for Hogar del Niño Ave María of approximately $700.00, which included clothing, office supplies, shoes, socks, toys, children's basic needs, cleaning supplies, and more. You can find the CFC catalog at https://cfcgiving.opm.gov/welcome

The Office of Small and Disadvantage Business Utilization (OSDBU) Director Jean Lin Pau joined the 2024 Federal Procurement Conference in Puerto Rico. OSDBU also participated in panel with SBAPR and SBDC on “Tools to Achieve Federal Contracting”. Both events provided opportunities for businesses in Puerto Rico to learn more about HUD and its forecast of contracting opportunities.

HUD San Juan Field Office celebrated Halloween with a get together organized by Laura Coira (OGC) Charlene Rodriguez (FPM), and Sasha Davila (FPM). From left to right: Sandra Velazquez (CPD), Laura Coira (OGC), Diana Suarez (CPD), Aixa Bastar (SF), Alberto Molina (ODR), Victoria Nuñez-Sierra (CPD), David Kreft (CPD), Sasha Davila (FPM), Jose Cedeño (OEE), Omar Figueroa (PIH), Mitchelle Mendez (ODR), Nancy Rivera-White (FHEO) Bottom row: Luis Pizarro (CPD), Karla Pagan-Gonzalez (CPD), Laura Rivera-Carrion (ODR), Adriana Grau (FPM)

PUERTO RICO AND U.S. VIRGIN ISLAND OTHER NEWS

HUD ANNOUNCEMENTS

Join us for the 2024 Innovative Housing Showcase from June 7-9 in D.C. on the National Mall!

The Showcase is a public event to raise awareness of innovative and affordable housing designs and technologies that have the potential to increase housing supply, lower the cost of construction, increase energy efficiency and resilience, and reduce housing expenses for owners and renters.This is the fourth edition of the Innovative Housing Showcase.

Explore past showcases, and check back in May 2024 for announcements on exhibitors and more details on programming related to the 2024 Showcase!

HUD Investigation Finds Luxury Condominium in Puerto Rico Violates the Accessibility Requirements of the Fair Housing Act

 The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that it is charging multiple entities for failing to design and construct Quantum Metrocenter Condominiums (“QMC”) in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in accordance with the accessibility requirements of the Fair Housing Act (“Act”) based upon a complaint initiated by HUD. These entities include the architectural firm that designed the drawings used for the construction of QMC, the general contractor, and both the original and subsequent owners. HUD has also charged some of the entities with failing to approve a reasonable accommodation request made by two residents due to the inaccessible design and construction features of QMC. Read the Charge.

The Act requires multifamily housing built after March 1991 to contain accessible features for people with disabilities. The Act also prohibits discrimination because of disability, including refusing to allow reasonable accommodations that would otherwise permit homeowners with disabilities an equal opportunity to use and enjoy their housing.

FHA Extends Temporary Regulatory and Handbook Waivers Related to Alternative Methods for Face-to-Face Meetings with Borrowers.

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) published extensions to its temporary regulatory waiver and related Single Family Housing Policy Handbook 4000.1 waiver, which allow mortgagees to utilize alternative methods for conducting meetings with borrowers in accordance with FHA’s early default intervention requirements. These alternatives provide practical and useful methods for conducting meetings with borrowers while ensuring they still receive needed information directly from their mortgage servicer.

FHA is now extending the waivers through January 1, 2025, unless the final rule amending 24 CFR § 203.604 and a Mortgagee Letter or Handbook 4000.1 update amending Section III.A.2.h.xii. become effective sooner.

Stakeholder Listening Session on HUD’s FY25 PBCA Proposal 

Assistant Secretary for Housing and Federal Housing Commissioner Julia Gordon invites interested parties to join a stakeholder listening session to share their feedback on HUD’s proposed modifications to the Performance-Based Contract Administrator (PBCA) program.   

“The PBCA program is essential to the sustainability of the Section 8 Project Based Rental Assistance (PBRA) program and the more than 1.2 million low-income households it serves,” said Commissioner Gordon. “HUD is committed to hearing from and working with stakeholders to achieve a solution that ensures the long-term viability of this program.” 

HUD plans to hold listening sessions virtually on June 5th and 6th.   

HUD UPCOMING FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

HUD awards discretionary funding through over 20 Grant programs that support HUD initiatives, including Affordable Housing Development and Preservation, Community and Economic Development, Environment and Energy, Fair Housing, Homelessness, Homeownership, Rental Assistance, and Supportive Housing and Services. 

Search for HUD grants on Grants.gov – Here you may search for discretionary HUD Grants, eligibility, and category. You will also find a Forecast for upcoming HUD grants.

• Green and Resilient Retrofit Program: Leading Edge – CLOSING 4/30/2024 – The Leading Edge NOFO provides funding to Owners aiming to quickly meet ambitious carbon reduction and resilience goals without requiring extensive collaboration with HUD.
• Preservation and Reinvestment Initiative for Community Enhancement (PRICE) Competition – CLOSING 5/5/2024 – This NOFO announces grants to preserve and revitalize manufactured housing and eligible manufactured housing communities. Eligible applicants include local and state governments, multi-jurisdictional entities, resident-controlled MHCs, cooperatives, non-profit entities, among others. 

• HUDRD - HBCU Research Center of Excellence NOFO – CLOSING 5/9/2024 – The purpose of this NOFO is to fund research at one or more research Centers of Excellence at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The Centers will conduct research projects on topics of strategic interest to HUD and produce research that provides evidence-based solutions to housing, community development, economic development, or built environment challenges in underserved communities

• FY24 Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants NOFO  – CLOSING 5/10/2024 – Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants support the development of a comprehensive plan to revitalize severely distressed public housing and/or HUD-assisted housing and the surrounding neighborhood. Using these grant funds, communities will undertake certain activities that lead to the creation of a comprehensive neighborhood revitalization strategy, or Transformation Plan.
• Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program – CLOSING 5/20/2024  The Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program provides Capital Advance funding for the development of supportive rental housing for Very-Low-Income persons aged 62 years or older and project rental subsidies in the form of a Project Rental Assistance Contract (PRAC) to maintain ongoing affordability. This program provides elderly persons with the opportunity to live independently, but with important voluntary support services such as nutritional, transportation, continuing education, and/or health-related services.
• Green and Resilient Retrofit Program: Comprehensive – CLOSING 5/30/2024 This NOFO funds recapitalization investments designed from inception around deep retrofits, focused on innovative energy efficiency and greening measures, renewable energy generation, structural building materials with lower embodied carbon, and climate resilience investments.
• FY2023 and FY2024 Authority to Accept Unsolicited Proposals for Research Partnerships – CLOSING 5/30/2024 – HUD Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) issues this Notice to announce that it has authority to accept unsolicited research proposals that address the current research priorities, which are included in this Notice. In accordance with statutory requirements, the research proposals must be submitted by eligible applicants and provide cost sharing of at least 50 percent of total project cost from philanthropic entities or Federal, state, or local government agencies. 

UPCOMING TRAININGS AND EVENTS

U.S.V.I. Events

Puerto Rico Events

HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes; utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination and transform the way HUD does business.

Find your local HUD office

For suggestions or collaborations, please contact Program Analyst for the Office of Field Policy and Management, Adriana Grau, at adriana.grau@hud.gov

Stay Connected with HUD Southeast Region

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