Centro Reconstrucción del Hábitat (Center for Habitat Reconstruction)

Centro Reconstrucción del Hábitat (CRH) is dedicated to stopping the problem of blighted and abandoned properties in Puerto Rico. CRH notes that vacant and abandoned properties affect society individually and collectively. They pose environmental and health hazards such as pollution, asthma and psychological impacts. They drain municipal resources on maintenance and demolition, and for police and firefighters to contend with crime and arson. They also attract landfills and abandoned vehicles; lower the value and heighten the abandonment of neighboring properties; and diminish taxes in city coffers. CRH’s comprehensive cross-sector approach includes collaborative planning and implementation strategies to include technical assistance to communities and local governments interested in rehabilitating deteriorated properties into affordable housing, civic centers, public spaces, and other private facilities that are essential to the health, safety and sustainability of communities.

CRH operates with a staff and a board of directors and is based in San Juan, PR. Through its history of working hand in hand with various communities, CRH has positioned itself as the main provider of technical assistance, consulting and expertise on the issue of property abandonment in Puerto Rico. CRH has worked with 23 municipalities to design and implement public nuisance declaration programs. CRH support includes personnel training, creating public nuisance inventories, incorporating citizen participation, facilitating legal processes and managing cases. CRH also offers services to resident associations and nonprofit organizations already working with residents. Regarding the issue of abandoned schools — the government of Puerto Rico has closed half of its public schools — CRH, in collaboration with the Othering and Belonging Institute at the University of Berkeley (CA), published research in 2020 titled, “Closing of public schools in Puerto Rico: Community impacts and recommendations.”

For more information:

NCRC Member Profile: Center For Habitat Reconstruction “CRH”, National Community Reinvestment Coalition, April 2022