Puerto Rico Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz and Senate Housing and Social Welfare Committee Chairwoman Jamie Barlucea Rodríguez have convened a multisector summit to seek solutions to the island’s growing housing affordability problems. The "Affordable Housing Multisector Meeting" takes place this Thursday in Leopoldo Figueroa Hall at the Capitol, bringing together government officials, private-sector representatives and nonprofit organizations to examine barriers to housing access and discuss policy responses.
The event follows data from the Office of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions cited by Senate leaders showing home sales fell about 7% in the first half of 2026 versus the same period a year earlier, while average home prices rose 12.6%. Rivera Schatz said the meeting will examine what prevents construction, how unused properties can be recovered, and what financing and assistance alternatives exist.
Discussion is expected to focus on increasing supply through recovery and reuse of vacant and abandoned properties, addressing title issues, streamlining permitting, financing options, and construction and rehabilitation of homes. He is also developing legislation to preserve Puerto Rico’s opportunity zone map for local incentives, directing benefits toward middle-income housing development while keeping support for subsidized housing.
Barlucea Rodríguez said the forum will address needs from first-time buyers to older adults and vulnerable populations, including the homeless, senior citizens, people with disabilities and survivors of gender-based violence. Sens. Ángel Toledo López, Héctor Joaquín Sánchez Álvarez, Adrián González Costa and Luis Daniel Colón La Santa are also expected to attend.