Comunicados de Prensa

Puerto Rico Governor Pedro R. Pierluisi and Housing Secretary William Rodríguez Rodríguez announced today the construction of the Ensueño project in Cupey, which will consist of 89 single-family rental units with a contribution of $36.9 million in CDBG-DR recovery funds.

“My commitment to rebuilding and modernizing our infrastructure, to provide our people with a more efficient and safe environment, is well known. This includes prioritizing projects to provide decent and affordable housing for our people. We are taking steps to continue increasing the housing stock in Puerto Rico, and today is another important day, as we see the beginning of housing for low- and moderate-income people, another project to provide decent shelter for our people. We have allocated $1.213 billion to the CDBG-DR Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Gap Program, of which $1.204 billion has already been obligated. This program helps us increase the funds available for housing projects that benefit low- and moderate-income people. Our administration is actively supporting these projects to provide solutions to the housing need that worsened after Hurricanes Irma and Maria,” said Governor Pierluisi.

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom units, with a kitchen and living area, will have an average floor space of 1,442 square feet. Each unit will include a water cistern, solar panels with batteries, and other resilient amenities. They will also feature a solar water heater, bathroom fixtures, and plumbing fixtures with water sensors for water conservation.

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom units, with a kitchen and living area, will have an average floor space of 1,442 square feet. Each unit will include a water cistern, solar panels with batteries, and other resilient amenities. They will also feature a solar water heater, bathroom fixtures, and plumbing fixtures with water sensors for conservation.

Ensueño received funding from the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) CDBG-DR Gap Program, administered in partnership with the Housing Finance Authority (HFA).

The project, which will occupy approximately 52 acres of land, will include a perimeter fence, controlled access, parking, an activity center with public restrooms, administrative facilities, a central courtyard area for passive recreation, and an equipped playground.

The executive director of the Housing Finance Administration (HFA), Blanca Fernández González, commented, "We continue to implement Governor Pierluisi's public policy by contributing to the development of affordable housing in Puerto Rico. We are pleased to have been able to provide the necessary financing to make this project viable and ensure that more Puerto Ricans have the opportunity to obtain a decent and safe home."

Twelve percent of the units will be designed for people with mobility disabilities, and three percent for people with visual and hearing disabilities. The project will meet the accessibility requirements of the Fair Housing Act and the ADA regulations of 2010, where applicable, and the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS).

The president of Ensueño's developer, RG Housing Group of Companies Corp., Ernesto Rodríguez, stated, "We are extremely pleased to participate in a visionary project that offers three-bedroom, two-bathroom Herrera residences. One that not only includes housing, but also includes controlled access, a park, entertainment rooms, parking, and provides decent spaces for families in need."

This is one of the initiatives developed by the Pierluisi administration to rebuild Puerto Rico using CDBG-DR funds. To mention some of the projects under this program, so far in 2023, the construction of the Sagrado Corazón aegis in Arecibo was announced, which will have 120 financed housing units. Likewise, the laying of the cornerstone of what will be the Centro María Mazzarello ALESPI affordable housing project in Orocovis was announced last January, with an investment of approximately $1.5 million in CDBG-DR recovery funds.

Likewise, in November of last year, the governor announced the beginning of the delivery of 69 units in the San Blas Apartments project in the municipality of Coamo. In December 2021, the Villas at Emerald Vista project opened in Caguas, a multi-family housing development with an investment of $46.2 million in CDBG-DR funds and 438 units. Meanwhile, in March 2021, the start of construction was announced for the Manuel Mediavilla Negrón III Home, a project of 90 new, affordable homes for seniors located in Humacao.

The first phase of this program (LIHTC) includes seven projects comprising nearly 1,000 housing units. Two of them are completed, and the other five are between 75 and 85 percent complete. The second phase consists of 17 projects with more than 2,500 housing units.

About the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) CDBG-DR Gap Program

The LIHTC Program responds to the need for safe, quality, and affordable rental housing in Puerto Rico. The Department of Housing signed a Subrecipient Agreement with the AFV (Affiliated Housing Authority) for the purpose of using CDBG-DR funds to increase the available public and private financing sources for the construction of rental housing units.

Under a typical LIHTC program administered by the AFV, a developer obtains a construction loan from a private entity or public agency, financing from a public or private source, and capital from private investors in exchange for the loans. CDBG-DR funds cover any capital shortfall (gap) to keep the project running.