The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through its Rural Development program, announced a $650,000 investment to support home repairs for low-income families in rural Puerto Rico communities. The money comes through the Housing Preservation Grant (HPG) and is meant for essential repairs, health and safety improvements, accessibility upgrades and disaster-recovery work. The announcement was made Wednesday at an event in the amphitheater of the Sila María Calderón Foundation in Río Piedras.
Lares, Jayuya, Juncos, Vega Baja and Barceloneta will each receive $50,000, while Sabana Grande, Aguada and Aibonito will each get $100,000. Habitat for Humanity of Puerto Rico will receive $50,000 through HPG, plus another $50,000 for recovering homes damaged by Hurricane Fiona. According to USDA, the funds can go toward roof repairs, electrical and plumbing upgrades, structural repairs, modifications to improve access for people with disabilities, and measures to mitigate the effects of future natural disasters.
USDA Rural Development’s single-family housing programs also offer qualifying individuals and families options to buy or build a home with no down payment, repair an existing property or refinance a mortgage, subject to each program’s requirements. In September, USDA awarded a $224,825 grant to the Sila María Calderón Foundation to expand entrepreneurship support in rural communities.
In Aguas Buenas, a $354,000 grant went to the Juan Asencio Aqueduct Association Inc. (Asaja) to rehabilitate well station No. 2, adding emergency power generation; it will benefit about 215 homes and more than 800 people. In Toa Baja, USDA announced a $7.5 million, 25-year loan at 2.875% interest to modernize the town’s stormwater system, projected to benefit more than 2,200 residents.