Allocation: $2,922,780,619
This program will provide assistance to eligible homeowners to repair damaged homes or rebuild substantially damaged homes in non-hazard areas. Eligible homeowners with damaged homes in a hazard zone will be offered relocation assistance.
Program closed to new applications.
HOME REPAIR, RECONSTRUCTION, OR RELOCATION PROGRAM
PROGRAM FOR RESIDENTIAL UNITS IN PUERTO RICO’S 78 MUNICIPALITIES THAT STILL HAVE DAMAGE CAUSED BY HURRICANES IRMA AND/OR MARIA.
The Government of Puerto Rico, through the Department of Housing, is proud to introduce the R3 Program financed with funds assigned by the Department of Housing and Urban Development of the United States (HUD), which will provide assistance for the repair or reconstruction of single-family homes damaged by hurricanes Irma and/or Maria.
Eligible homeowners with substantial damage who are located in hazard zones (situated in a flood plain, floodway, or areas vulnerable to landslide) will be offered relocation assistance to a safe dwelling.
Every relocation will be voluntary.
THIS PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO ALL 78 MUNICIPALITIES OF PUERTO RICO.
The R3 Program Guidelines established the following priority groups:
- Applicants with significant property damage (including blue roof)
- Elderly applicants (65 years or older)
- Disabled applicants
- All, of low-to moderate-income.
GUIDELINES
Virtual tour of a house
INFORMATIVE MATERIAL
THESE GROUPS ARE CATEGORIZED AND WILL BE SERVED IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER:
Applications that comply with the elderly applicant, disabled applicant, and significant property damage. All three (3) conditions must be met for an Application to be considered under this Priority Group.
Applications that comply with the elderly applicant and significant property damage or disabled applicant and significant property damage, as defined in the Intake Priority Period section of the R3 Program Guidelines.[2] If either of the two (2) conditions is met, the Application will be considered under this Priority Group.
Applications that only comply with the definition of significant property damage, as stated in the Intake Priority Period section of the R3 Program Guidelines. If this condition is met, the Application will be considered under this Priority Group.
Applications that comply with the elderly applicant and/or disabled applicant definitions, as established in the Intake Priority Period section of the R3 Program Guidelines. If either, the elderly applicant or disabled applicant condition is met, the Application will be considered under this Priority Group.
(Non-Priority Group)
Applications that do not meet any of the Priority Group definitions outlined herein.
PROGRAM PROCESS
Program Intake
During the application period, the interested parties had four application methods:
• Online at cdbg-dr.pr.gov/r3
• Through the Puerto Rico CDBG-DR mobile application (available for download at Google Play Store)
• Visiting a Center of the R-3 Program, and
• By calling 1-833-234-2324 to make an appointment
The submitted applications were assigned to a case manager based on the location of the damaged property.
Documentation was required to prove the identity and citizenship of all applicants and household members.
Review of Admission Documents
• At the Review of Admission documents, the case managers will confirm that all required documents were provided by the applicants.
• These documents allow the Program to establish eligibility.
• Applicants, who do not submit all required documents for the eligibility determination, will receive a Required Documents Notification.
• With the required documents, case managers can prioritize seniors citizens, people with disabilities, and applicants with significant property damage.
Eligibility Review
As part of the Eligibility Review, the case managers will review all documents to determine if applicants met the eligibility criteria.
The eligibility review includes:
• Income review
• Duplication of Benefits Review (DOB)
• Ownership Review
• Evidence of single-family structure
• Evidence of primary residence
• Evidence of ownership of the hurricane-Impacted property at the moment of the hurricanes Irma and/or Maria
• Evidence of flood cover, if applicable
For details click here.
Applicants who are found eligible will receive an Eligibility Determination Notification.
For those applicants found to be ineligible, an Ineligibility Determination Notification will be issued.
Homeowner applicants who submit non-traditional ownership documentation will be referred to the Title Authorization Program.
Initial Assessment of Property
Following the determination of eligibility, the Program will assign a damage assessor, an environmental inspector, and an appraiser to the case.
Damage Assessors will be responsible for scheduling the date and time with applicants, environmental inspectors, and appraisers, so that all three inspections occur at the same time.
• Damage Assessment: It will determine the amount of damage to property affected by the hurricanes and the estimated cost of the repairs required
• Environmental Review: Environmental inspectors will determine whether a project and its potential environmental impacts meet federal, state, and local environmental standards.
• Appraisal: Appraisers will determine the current market value of the property affected by the hurricanes. Your report will be used in conjunction with the Damage Assessment to determine what type of assistance applicants are eligible for.
Award Coordination
• After the amount to be awarded is determined, case managers will contact applicants, and in addition, a notification with the corresponding award will be issued to the applicant.
• When a repair or reconstruction is awarded, a construction manager will be assigned.
• Construction managers will visit the site where the damage occurred. The final scope of the works will be provided to the Program administrator.
• Applicants will sign all required program agreements and prepare to vacate the hurricane-affected property to begin construction.
• Applicants who receive relocation awards will be required to participate in the Housing Counseling Program.
Design Process and Permits
After determining the type of final work and after the applicant has signed all required Program agreements, the Construction Manager -along with his designer will begin the design and permitting process. All construction documents must be sent to OGPe for review and approval.
Repair or Reconstruction
• The Contractor will get all required OGPe permits.
• The Contractor will complete the repair or reconstruction work in milestone phases.
• Milestone inspections shall be made at the end of each construction phase to ensure that the work is completed in accordance with the agreed scope of work and the requirements of the applicable local codes.
• The Contractor will remedy any deficiencies identified during stage inspections before it can move on to the next stage of construction.
• No progress payment shall be issued to Construction Managers without the proper execution, to the Program’s satisfaction, of a milestone inspection.
Homeowner’s Move
Once all demolition, repair, reconstruction or new construction work has been successfully completed, and the homeowner accepts the work, the applicant may move into the new house.
Administrative Closure
Once all the work has been successfully completed and all documents related to the application are duly archived, the administrative closure of the application will be completed.
RELOCATION SUMMARY
- Relocation: Homes located in a one hundred (100) year floodplain or high hazard area (as identified in the environmental review), whose estimated cost of repair exceeds $60,000 or 50% of the current appraised value of the home, whichever is less, will qualify for relocation.The applicant may receive an offer to voluntarily purchase the affected property, along with a Relocation Voucher for the purchase of an existing replacement home. If a suitable replacement option cannot be identified, eligible applicants may receive assistance for the construction of a Program-designed home on a new lot only as a last option.
- Reconstruction: If elevated reconstruction in a floodplain is deemed reasonable, the applicant will have two award options: relocation or elevated reconstruction. Homes located in a one hundred (100) year floodplain are eligible for elevated reconstruction if:
- the estimated cost of repair is greater than $60,000 or 50% of the current appraised value of the home, whichever is less;
- the applicant has rejected a relocation award; and
- the model home will require less than 5 feet of elevation as a construction measure, in which case, elevated reconstruction is considered reasonable.
To facilitate a successful process, the applicant will receive relocation support and a homeowner education course administered by a HUD-certified housing counselor in the Housing Counseling Program. The housing counseling services will be free of charge to the applicant and will be intended to provide the tools and knowledge to make informed decisions regarding their relocation.
Once a property has been approved as a suitable replacement, the Program will conduct a closing event with the applicant and seller to effectuate: 1) the transfer of title of the earthquake-affected property to Housing; and 2) purchase of the replacement property or vacant lot for the applicant.
DOCUMENTS NEEDED:
Only one document is required per category, except if stated otherwise.
- Government-issued photo ID (federal or stateside)
- Driver’s license
- Passport
- Military Identification
- Certificate of Naturalization or Permanent Residence Card
- Birth Certificate
- House Deed (“Escritura Pública”);
- Certification of the Puerto Rico Property Registry (“Certificación Registral”); or
- Declaration of Heirship (“Declaratoria de Herederos”)
- May include Instance inscription of heirs (“Instancia”)
- Title Certification (“Certificación de Título del Departamento de la Vivienda”)
- Court Judgment (“Sentencia o Resolución de un tribunal”)
- 3 most recent payment stubs
- Social Security letter of benefits
- Letter in relation to Retirement Pension/Annuity
- Federal Income Tax Return on Self-Employment (1040PR), 1040 or 1040A, W-2 Form and/or Profit and Loss Declaration
- Rent Income from Lease Agreement(s)
- Unemployment Benefits
- Food Allowance/Alimony from ex-spouse
- Income from Interest payments and/or Dividends
- 2017 Federal Tax Return
- 2017 Income Tax Return
- Letter of assistance approval from FEMA
- SBA letter in relation to disaster relief loans
- Basic utilities bills
- Bank account or credit card statement
- Voter’s Registration Card
- Homestead exemption verified through property tax records
Complete a notarized Ownership Affidavit accompanied by one (1) of the following:
- Property tax statements or receipts issued by Municipal Revenue Collection Center (CRIM, for its Spanish acronym)
- Mortgage payment book or other mortgage documents
- Probated Will or Will accompanied with a Certificate of Validity
- Court Order or Judgment granting an ownership interest in the property
- Divorce Judgment granting an ownership interest in the property
- Private Contract for Sale: If the applicant purchased the property in a private owner sale the contract must be confirmed as satisfied with additional supporting documentation
- Proof that the applicant occupies the land with “right of use or enjoyment” and/or “right of construction” in accordance with applicable laws and regulations
- Other documents will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis
- Insurance Policy Number (Owner’s or Property)
- Flood Insurance Policy Number
- Information of other insurance policies (if applicable)
YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO THIS PROGRAM EVEN IF YOU HAVE BEEN DENIED
BY FEMA OR OTHER SOURCES OF ASSISTANCE.
- Single-family housing units occupied by owner that were affected by hurricanes Irma and/or Maria.
- Duplexes;
- Manufactured Housing Units (MHU);
- Detached, stand-alone, stick-built or concrete residential structures;
- Attached units.
- Homeowners (or those deemed to have property rights) who meet HUD’s levels of low-to moderate-income and who owned or occupied such unit as their primary residence at the time of hurricanes Irma and/or Maria.
R3 PROGRAM INTAKE CENTERS
West Area – IEM
Ponce, PR
1132 Ave. Hostos
Operation hours:
Monday to Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Phone: (787)-229-6262
VIEW MAP
Mayagüez, PR
Vista Verde Shopping Center
510 Hostos Ave. Suite 114
(Frente a las Oficinas Regionales de Vivienda)
Operation hours:
Monday to Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Phone: (787)-229-6262
VIEW MAP
East Area – ICF
San Juan, PR
Centro Comercial Las Vistas
Avenida Felisa Rincón 300
Suite 31
San Juan, PR 00926
Operation hours:
Monday to Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Phone: 787-705-9288 o 1-855-654-9342
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Center Area – Tetra Tech
Guaynabo, PR
Metro Office Park
Calle 1, Lote 15 Suite 201
Operation hours:
Monday to Thursday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Call Center: 787-665-7909
VIEW MAP
TRANSPARENCY PORTAL
Learn more about the progress of this program on the Transparency Portal
This portal is automatically updated on a daily basis.
