Centro para la Reconstrucción del Hábitat

Centro para la Reconstrucción del Hábitat (CRH) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Puerto Rico. It is the only organization focused exclusively on addressing the issue of deteriorated and abandoned properties in the region[1][5].

Mission and Activities

The CRH utilizes an intersectoral approach, involving collaborative planning and strategy implementation to transform abandoned public nuisances into assets for recovery, community development, and long-term resilience. This includes providing technical assistance and legal support to communities, non-profit organizations, and local governments interested in rehabilitating deteriorated properties[1][5].

Problematic Context

Puerto Rico faces a deepening housing crisis, with a significant increase in abandoned properties, particularly in vulnerable communities. The rate of vacant homes has risen to about 24%, more than doubling since 2000[1]. Additionally, numerous schools, businesses, and industrial spaces remain closed and vacant[1].

Projects and Services

The CRH offers a range of services, including support for municipal governments to create new acquisition methods through ordinances, training, and implementation. It conducts community planning, facilitates the creation of space rescue plans, and supports the development of previously identified properties for specific projects through "placemaking" initiatives. The CRH also provides fiscal sponsorship to strengthen resident associations and NGOs working against abandonment[1].

Moreover, the organization has launched a legal assistance program aimed at empowering communities by addressing issues related to inheritance, ownership, usucapión, possession, and declarations of nuisance[1].

Funding and Partnerships

The CRH receives funding from various sources, including grants from organizations such as Filantropia Puerto Rico, The Ford Foundation, and the Amalgamated Charitable Foundation. These grants support core operations and specific projects, such as the Opportunity Zone Fund for equitable revitalization in Puerto Rico[4].

Leadership

As of the latest available data, Luis Gallardo serves as Executive Director/President of the CRH[4]. Other key officers include Jua N. A. Gonzalez Moscoso, Belínes Ramos Negron, and Edgardo L. Medina Lopez[4].