Pablo José Hernández & Ritchie Torres Introduce Legislation Improving Access to Safe & Affordable Housing to Low-Income Families

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Pablo José Hernández, Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico, and Congressman Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), member of the House Financial Services Committee, have introduced the Puerto Rico Low-Income Housing Support Act, a bill aimed at expanding access to safe, stable, and affordable housing for low-income families in Puerto Rico.

Hernández, committed to bringing good ideas and people together, has introduced the bill with additional legislative language to enhance its impact for low-income families in Puerto Rico. This legislation was originally introduced by now Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González during her tenure as Resident Commissioner.

“Puerto Rico families struggling financially should have access to safe, stable, and affordable housing. I’m proud to introduce this legislation, originally presented by my predecessor, and strengthen it with provisions that allow the government to better identify and address the needs of low-income families in the island, particularly when disaster strikes. Rebuilding after disaster strikes is devastating for communities and we need concrete data to learn from past experiences and improve future outcomes,” said Hernández.

“For too long, Puerto Rico’s most vulnerable families have been denied access to critical housing assistance. The Puerto Rico Low-Income Housing Support Act aims to correct this inequity by applying the same poverty guidelines used in the states to Puerto Rico, ensuring low-income families receive the support they need. I was proud to introduce this legislation in the last Congress alongside then-Congresswoman González-Colón, and I am honored to co-lead it this time with Congressman Pablo Hernández Rivera in the fight for economic dignity for all Puerto Ricans,” said Torres.

The updated legislation strengthens federal oversight and assistance by adding the following provision:

Sec. 3 – Report on Low-Income Housing Access in Puerto Rico

The Government Accountability Office will submit a report to Congress evaluating efforts to connect low-income families to housing assistance and available units in Puerto Rico. The report will include:

• An assessment of how the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Puerto Rico Public Housing Administration identify and address the housing needs of extremely low-income families;
• An evaluation of how federal disaster recovery funds are used to rebuild and expand low-income housing after hurricanes and earthquakes;
• Recommendations for improving the effectiveness of federal and local housing programs in serving Puerto Rico’s most vulnerable families.

Additionally, the bill amends the definition of ‘extremely low-income families’ under the United States Housing Act of 1937 to ensure that Puerto Rico follows the same poverty guidelines as the continental United States so that more families are able to secure a home.

Click HERE to view legislative text.

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