Report of the Puerto Rico Housing Authority: Decent Homes for Low Income Families (1949)

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DECENT

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-LOW ® INCOME FAMILIES

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arÍQlthe PÜÉfitO fi íCO MOUSING AUtHORlTY — 1948-1949

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Date Loaned

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recinto de í'iEwrtAS

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Hon. Governor Luis Muñoz Marín

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Ernesto J. Fonfrías

José N. Gándara

Vice-Chairman

Chairman

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César Cordero Dávila

Secretary & Executive Directoi

E D I T

11 Years of Public Housing Early i The Puerto Rico Housing Authority was established by virtue of Insular Act No. 126 of 1938, keyed to Public Law No. 412, approved by Congress in 1937, as amended, with a view to receive

the benefits of the policy therein adoptad by the United States to promote the general welfare of the Nation by employing its funds and credit to assist the several States and the political subdivisions in remedying the unsafe and insanitary dwelling conditions of familias of low income.

The Puerto Rico Housing Authority is governed by a Board of Commissioners composed of five members and a Secretary. The Secretary also acts as Executive Director. The members or Commissioners are appointed by the Governor with the approval of the Senate for a period of

five years and serve without compensation. The Chairman of the Board is elected annually by the members.

marks the llth anniversary of the Puerto Rico Housing Authority. In these eleven years 4,711 familias were housed in the island projects. Many slum areas were cleared.

BUT THE AUTHORITY'S GOAL IS: TO CLEAR EL FANGUITO, the island's worst and biggest slum area. <•

) :bars

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ÜLULVJ

CLEARAiNCE

authoeI?? developments theofpuerto ricowould housing UTHOEITY, ereated to provide decent homes within theofreach families who otherwise, be condemned to the misery and despair of slum living.

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The activities and achievements of the Authority during the eleven years have all been planned

toward one objective-DEVELOPING WITHIN THE PROJECTS THOSE GPPORTUNITTFq

FOK DKENT NEIOHBOELY LIVING H.. wil,„W.,h.

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their full contribution as good American citizens. )ONE

The Puerto Rico Housing Authority operates 27 housing projeets in the island.

14 are Federally Subsidized r

13 are financed by the Insular Government.

• •

OUR HOME IS OUR CASTLE

TWO STORY APARTMENT BUILDING

FEDERAL AIDED

ÑAME

LOCATION

INSULAR AIDED

UNITS

ÑAME

LOCATION

UNITS

Santiago Veve Calzada

Fajardo

210

Caserío Dr. Feo. Seín

Lares

192

Félix Córdova Dávila

Manatí

193

Caserío Hato Grande

San Lorenzo

100

Delgado

Caguas

120

Extensión Hato Grande

San Lorenzo

24

José Mercado

Caguas

152

José de Diego

Aguadilla

178

Dr. Agustín Stahl

Bayamón

Las Lomas

San Germán

100

Manuel Corchado Juarbe

Isabela

170

Manuel J. Rivera

Coamo

112

José de Jesús Estevas

Aguadilla

199

Ext. Manuel J. Rivera

Coamo

32

Dr. López Sicardó

Río Piedras

256

Salinas

Salinas

104

Arturo Lluberas

Yauco

227

Extensión Salinas

Salinas

28

Dr. Coll y Tosté

Arecibo

100

Benigno Fdez. García^

Cayey

104

José Severo Quiñones

Carolina

197

Ext. Antonio Roig

Humacao

125

Fernando Calimano

Guayama

146

Zeno Gandía

Arecibo

248

Rosendo Matienzo Cintren

Cataño

160

San José

Río Piedras

711

Antonio Roig

Humacao

200

Eleanor Roosevelt

Río Piedras

329

89

View of De Diego Project at Aguadilla

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Decent Living Quiartei

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VIEW OF DR. LOPEZ SICARDO PROJECT

;-;^r'iTv a.iridl Loveliness

AERIAL VIEW OF HATO GRANDE PROJECT

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oi Nature...

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Vour Best Soiuvenir ❖

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\Vo.indcr, the Tenant

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.¡'urii OA'cr for Í948>^49 [^Í5 . ■ •>í

m

r o I € c ts Und er Constructioii Project

No. of

Locatlon

Number

PRHA-10

Arecibo

Awarded Contract

Percentage of

Pi'ice

Completion 1948-49

Type of Project

Units

144

Dwellings Units

114

Land & Utilities Intermedíate Type Land & Utilities Intermedíate Type

$414, 894. 00

91. 37

613, 985. 00

72. 46

Earthfill of lots

35, 209. 00

80

689, 500. 00

91. 50

389, 000. 00

56. 00

PRHA-11

Bo. Amelia, Guaynabo

PRHA-12A

San José

PRHA-13

San José, Río Piedras

224

PRHA-14

San José, Río Piedras

144

Dwellings Units Dwellings Units

PRHA-16

San José, Río Piedras

120

Dwellings Units

312, 000. 00

74.15

244, 444. 42

95. 04

499

PRHA-22

Bayamón

347

Land & Utilities Sup. Type Land & Utilities Intermedíate Type

PRHA-23

Mayagüez

164

Dwellings Units

517, 500. 00

7. 33

PRHA-26

Isla Verde, Carolina

344

Land & Utilities Mínimum Type

143, 320. 00

94. 70

PRHA-26A

Isla Verde, Carolina

39,780.00

12. 47

144, 444. 00

25

9

Removal & Transportation of Houses from International Airport to Isla Verde Development

PRHA-27 MH-13

Arecibo

99

4

Carolina

Land Subdivisión Standard Type Experimental Model Houses

8, 515. 00

Order to Proceed June

21, 1949 MH-14

Río Piedras

8 0

Experimental Model Houses

17, 000. 00

Order to

Proceed July 7, 1949

Projects Completed During tte Year 1948^49 No. of

Project

Type of Project

Location Units

Number

Price

PRHA-3-14

Guayama

146

Dwelling Units

PRHA-12

Río Piedras

491

Land & Utilities Superior Type

PRHA-20

Río Piedras

300

Land & Utilities Minimum Type

PRHA-20A

Río Piedras

300

Latrines '

oE. Roosevelt

329

PRHA-^21

MH-8

Adjusted Contract

Río Piedras

5

Land Subdivisión Standard Type

$489, 389. 17 400, 537. 63 137, 426. 74 28, 029. 32 253, 296. 84

Model Houses 19, 679. 56

MH-9

Ponce

8

MH-10

Caguas

4

San Germán

3

MH-11

Model Houses

41, 023, 68 Model Houses 22, 389. 15

Model Houses 18, 361. 32

10

RENT DEPENDS ON INCOME

41Cr,¿ii¿Srikl

No more no less. Rents are based on the ability to pay, and are set at approximately l/5th and l/6th the total income less

utility and fuel expenses. Máximum income and rent ceilings are set sufficiently below rentáis available from prívate enterprise to assure a non-competitive and supplementing service to the community. THE CRITERION IS: What the family can afford to pay.

The total income for project varíes according to the dístríbutíon of dwelling units per rent grade. Rents range from $2.50 to $20.00 per month.

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BETTER SERVICE

The Authority is required by law to make an annual check on tenant incomes to see that rents remain pro-

portional to incomes and that incomes are within the limits allowed for continued residence.

This re-examination also provides a means for checking

on other changes in the family not previously reported. o

The Authority maintains a cióse check-up on the physical condition oí the dwellings by periodic inspections, which bring to light difficulties that arise from overdue re-

pairs as well as those caused by poor housekeeping habits.

The visits to the homes enable the manager to know the

full extent of his problems, so he can plan accordingly.

The social workers get acquainted with tenants' prob lems and try to help and guide them in their solution.

The homemaking teachers who visit the tenants give advice to housekeepers who have special problems and to those who are inexperienced with good, clean, modern homes.

dini^n a new and brighter ENVIRONMENT

"THERE IS NO IMMEDIATE AIM OF THE L¿-V

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AMERICAN PEOPLE MORE WIDELY SUPPORTED AND MORE INSISTENTLY VOICED THAN THE DESIRE TO ATTACK THE SOCIAL EVILS OF THE SLUM AND TO PROVIDE DECENT LIVING QUARTERS FOR... THE UNDERPRIVILEGED."

(The U. 5. Senate Committee on Ediication and Labor—1937) ••

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By building housing projects and providing decent, safe and sanitary dwellings for red:eming the people from the slums, our mission is completed as far as tangible work is concerned WE HAVE TAKEN THE INDIVIDUAL OUT OF THE SLUM, huZ the hardcst. longest, and most tedious task is just beginning, that of TAKING THE SLUM OUT OF THE INDIVIDUAL.

As a continuation of the work of slum clearance, after the ncw houses are built and the

tenants from the slums moved in, thcre is the monumental task of providing

A

L D u c A rio

to transform thcm into

RABLE CITIZENS

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Library at Catañt) opcned e\

Monday and Wednesday

DANCING. is the most popular activity at the projects. Teen-agérs always look for a motive to dance. Social gatherings, meetings, movies, Queen elections, always end with the tempo of music.

FACI L 1T1 F S It is good to consider that most of the residents of the public housmg projects are people who lived a miserable life forgotten by soeiety, mingled with social evils as crime 'vice

juvemle delinquency, and prostitution.

Slum residents are the most unfortunate people Thev

are the enes we have to protect, to guide!to CtetaiS ' order to help them to live HAPPY anrl TTFAT Twv +v,

Section of Community Activitles of

AY

deavored to establish different facilité Authoiity has en-

the benefit of a lU'omising

M 1 L K S1'

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Itll^ÍSr^ííSo^SS^f Mhh Stations Emergency Progrfml pferto

M S The misery and poverty in which the slum residents live, turns to society undernourished children. These children need care and ti-eatment. EfForts were made toward the

establishment of Nursery Schools in the ¡projects. Today

the Autliority operates Nursery Schools at Caguas, Baya-

món, Humacao, Río Piedras, Arecibo, Carolina, and Cayey where 310 children from 2 to 4 years oíd are attended to and cared for. Three meáis are served daily. Medical treatment is also provided.

PLAYGROUNDS...

In contrast to the barren streets of most slum areas, the public housing projects offer ampie, clean, well equipped playgrounds to promote sports and improve the health conditions of the tenants.

the adults in the housing projects improve their way of living.

The Social Workers of the Authority have the responsibility of helping to adjust the tenants to their new environment.

The Social Work Section has accomplished much more than what was expected of it. The progress is obvious. ¡Walk into the projects and see by yourself! In spite of the poor economic con Outdoort...

ditions of our families those contacted showed marked interest

and contributed to the success of this program.

£ i( )i\ í * \\ í . V ^ 1 ■% V , ( , X' ; / i-; N at Cataño, Isla Verde, and San José projects. The purpose of these centers is to help the tenants in the solution of their problems such as: diet, health, care of children, good housekeeping habits, selection of sewing materials.

Advice is given to tenants in relation to interior de-

coration, what kind of furniture they should buy considering their low income.

The trend among women is to step

from school into housekeeping.

In

order to be a good wife and housekeeper, the newly-wed should know how to cook, sew, and keep the house clean.

THIS, AND MORE IS LEARNED at the HOMEMAKING CENTERS

established in the projects.

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Education is fundamental to our children. It molds the

SCHOOL LUNCH rr) 1314 sehool children were servad lunch free at the school

character ancl behavior oí the individual. We cannot neglect

luncheons in the projects.

this valuable and precious asset.

1651 children received elementary education at public schools in the housing projects. The Department oí Education constructed a beautiful school building at Fajardo and the Legislature appropriated funds for the construction oí 3 more

schools at Carolina, Caguas and San José housing projects.

-l-H CLUBS , cMMre. flnd.gr,.t cWc help ta £°¡TAt "'1 A' Athletic Leagues already established in

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405 chMtan„„,tatatad ta .hi" r"l"f Houta „tated .t E.t.v..

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for group social workers

Of Social Work of the University of'p\

supervisión of Dr. Thomas B. Jones V ?

Department

the University. This fieid canter iCl' Professor of cardó project. 15 students from th^^T • their experience in Social Work in .^'^"''•'ersity obtained second semester of 1948-49.

center during the

Gardening, Our Residents' Aífair.

In the project at Yauco the coonev .•

COO PL RALI V L

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important activity. Durino. creaspd in iñfi

a

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m onn was reported. toto $27,000

store was tk»

^ the veay* ífo

was the mos

of $7 -.1 ^embership ^ 200 ,With sales amountiníin

■'^"^TCAL DISPENSARIES ONE OF THE MOST important services in a community is medical service. In spite of the shortage of doctors in the island, the

Authority has been lucky in securing the cooperation of a certain number of professionals to treat the patients in the projects.

220 patients were examinad and treated at the Medical Dispensary at Dr. López Sicardó project since its establishment.

This dispensary was organizad by the Woman's Health Committee at the project with the cooperation of the Catholic Mission of San Martín of Porras. Doctors Ramón T. Colón, José Garriga, Carlos González, and Miguel A. Pastrana, Jr., Dentist, offer

their professional services free. The office hours are from 7 to 9 P. M., Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

iXÍHN'S HliAl ! H COMMTTTEES Among the diíferent Women's Health Committees the most active is that at Dr. López Sicardó project. These women are working very hard. Their knowledge of the tenants'

problems have marked a new era in their Uves. Understanding among neighbors as well as team work among the club's members have been encouraged. This aim has been attained.

TO THE PU

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THE PUERTO RICO HOUSING AUTHORITY, as a public agency, reaognizes its obligation to keep the public informed of its progress, of the way ít spends its money, and of its future plans. Its program Is reportad through:

RESS News storíes and feature artícles on the Authority's operatíons appeared In local papers almost d "I invitad to every activity that takes place in the projects.

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Radio programs were broadcast through local stations. The tenants participated in these programs.

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"El Caserío" is the monthly newspaper published by the Authority. It Is devoted to the tenants.

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1 incipally to niatters of interest

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THE TENANTS MANUAL, a pamphlet giving Instructions to the tenants on their ' housing projects.

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privileges in the

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THE CITY GIVES SERVICES

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Pólice and fire protection, health service,

education, library service, street maintenance and lighting, garbage collection, sewer service.

The Puerto Rico Housing Authority is able to oíFer decent homes to families of low income at rents adjusted to their

ability to pay because of the help which it receives from Federal and local governments. The Federal Government

helps by means of an annual contribution, which makes up 30

the diíference between the low rents paid by the tenants and the full cost of operating and maintaining the projects.

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The Insular Legislature by Act No. 108 of 1944 appro-

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THE TENANTS PAY RENT

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priated the amount of $2,200,000 and by Acts Nos. 154, 264, and 265 of 1945, appropriated $3,850,000 more, one million of which was to be used for freezing slums. Thereafter ap-

propriations were made for $875,000 in 1946, (Act No. 18) and $6,250,000 in 1947 (Act No. 410). By direction of the Governor this appropriation has been used exclusively to

clear a portion of El Fanguito. One million two hundred thousand dollars $1,200,000 of this amount have been transferred to the San Juan Housing Authority for Las Casas Extensión to be used for families from El Fanguito. The

last legislature approved $900,000 (Act No. 363) which amount has not been carried to Auditor's books as yet.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MEETS THE DEFICIT FOR

FEDERAL AIDED PROJECTS. ': • THE INSULAR GOVERNMENT

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FOR THOSE RECEIVING INSULAR AID.

23

EL HOUSING

BOARD

The Model Housing Board was created by Act 6574 (Public No. 108-73rd Congress). By virtue of this Act the amount

of $30,000 is placed at the disposal of the Model Housing Board yearly for the construction of model houses. The

Act further provides that no more than eight (8l houses be buílt in any ene year in any Senatorial District. In 1940

the Puerto Rico Housing Authoríty began working in cióse cooperation with the Model Housing Board because of the

fact that the three members who compose the latter are members of the Board of Commissioners of the Puerto Rico Housing Authority.

A C 1' ;

I ES

San Germán .... 2 Model Houses Ponce 8 Model Houses

Hato Rey

5 experimental houses (Weldon) made of precast con crete panels

Guaynabo

1 experimental house of Terracota blocks manufactured

(Amelia)

Caguas

in Puerto Rico

4 Model Houses at "El Verde"

Río Piedras—

Hato Rey

!k'.

2 wooden Model Houses

(San José)

San Lorenzo.... 9 concrete blocks Model Houses Yo-Yo type—18 units

Río Grande

Preparation of Plans for 4 Model Houses

Río Piedras—

Hato Rey (San José)

Isla Verde Dorado

2 buildings with 8 units Yo-Yo type made of "Thex-moCon" concrete

4 experimental Model Houses (Modular type) 4 Houses were moved from Dorado to the San José Project

Arecibo 24

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Plans completed for 1 Model House made of asbestos and cement

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A R ECJ B O

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RIO PIEDRA^—

— MANATI

GÜAYNABO H 499

375 — AGUA DIL LA

CAROLINA

—

F A JARDO

—

—jL A RES CAG ü A 8

MAYAOUEZ VIE Q UES

SAN GERMAN

—

HUMACAO i— 200 -(( I 25 eUAYAM A «AM LORENZO —

2 8 )— I O 4"SAL I N A 8

CATEY

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PUERTO RICO HOUSING AUTHGRITY map showing

OWELLiNG

URBANIZED

projects completeo a under constructiow Department of Finance SERVICE OFFICE — PRiNTING DIVISION SAN JUAN P. R.

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\^^^UIIBANIzationII

UNITS.

gonstruoted

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