Comunicados de Prensa

Washington, D.C. – With the mission of securing and expanding the future of affordable housing in Puerto Rico, the Secretary of the Department of Housing, Ciary Pérez Peña, recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to hold a series of strategic meetings with members of Congress, senators, and senior federal officials.

The main objective of these meetings was to strengthen collaboration with the federal government and its agencies, as well as with Congress, to promote the construction of low- and moderate-cost housing, especially for people with limited economic resources. Additionally, the meeting sought to expand economic development assistance and opportunities for public housing residents.

Secretary Pérez Peña led a delegation that included Gabriella Boffelli, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Office in Washington (PRFAA), Representatives Vilmarie Peña, Ángel Peña, Christian Muriel, and Carmen Medina, and Esq. Carlos R. Olmedo Álvarez, Associate Secretary of the Critical and Priority Projects Division of the Department of Housing, underscoring the importance and scope of this mission.

Pérez Peña began her visits at the Federal Capitol and met with Congressman Ritchie Torres, Democrat from New York, who is an important ally in promoting public housing. During the dialogue, strategies were explored to expand public housing programs for low-income residents, an initiative strongly supported by Governor Jenniffer González Colón.

However, the conversations also focused on obtaining critical environmental resources and federal funding for the Department of Housing from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the CDBG-DR/MIT programs.

For this reason, Secretary Pérez Peña met with Ben Hobbs, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Housing at HUD, to present the new subsidized housing projects that will be built in Puerto Rico.

The main focus of this meeting was a detailed presentation of Governor González Colón's public policy, which seeks to guarantee access to housing for low- and middle-income families.

This meeting sought to integrate Puerto Rico into the national conversation on affordable housing for people with limited or moderate incomes.

These important visits occur at a critical time for Puerto Rico, which faces significant housing challenges, exacerbated by natural disasters and the ongoing need for economic recovery.

Actively seeking federal funding and close collaboration with U.S. officials and legislators are essential to advancing the construction of affordable housing and promoting sustainable economic development on the island.