WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced its approval of Puerto Rico’s latest disaster recovery action plan to help the island continue to rebuild from Hurricanes Maria and Irma. HUD’s approval of the action plan makes Puerto Rico eligible for Congressionally appropriated disaster relief funds which will be awarded through HUD grant programs.
“This is an unprecedented investment and since Puerto Rico has a history of fiscal malfeasance, we are putting additional financial controls in place to ensure this disaster recovery money is spent properly,” said Secretary Carson. “With stringent HUD oversight, these dollars should have a real, lasting impact on Puerto Rico and help our fellow citizens who are struggling to recover from these devastating storms.”
As a result of the Administration’s serious concerns over Puerto Rico’s past fiscal irregularities, and to ensure that all disaster relief funds will be spent in a manner that helps the citizens of Puerto Rico, HUD will impose strict conditions and financial controls on the use of the funds. This heightened scrutiny will include enhanced monitoring of expenditures and other measures designed to ensure Puerto Rico’s legal and prudent use of the funds.
Learn more about CDBG-DR and the State’s role in long-term disaster recovery (en español).