By The Star Staff
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded nearly $438,000 to three nonprofit organizations dedicated to revitalizing communities and supporting people in socially disadvantaged situations.
The funds were aimed at restoring infrastructure at the organizations whose facilities were damaged as a result of Hurricane Maria.
“These restorations represent a lifeline for those who rely on these services,” said Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator José G. Baquero. “The obligation of funds helps restore facilities that provide key support for the emotional and economic development of these families.”
On one hand, FEMA awarded nearly $228,000 to the Trujillo Alto Economic Development Corp. (CDETA by its initials in Spanish) to repair the Aires del Manantial Retirement Home, a residential project for low-income people 62 years of age and older. The facility was built in 2016 in the Cuevas neighborhood of Trujillo Alto, through a public and private sector effort. It has 10 floors with capacity for 120 housing units and parking spaces.
“CDETA has played a key role in supporting seniors and people with disabilities by facilitating their access to safe and affordable housing,” CDETA Executive Director Nilda H. Díaz said. “Our organization is responsive to the needs of these vulnerable populations, working to adapt our projects so that they can live independently.”
The construction project included various structural repairs, such as replacing wall panels, metal railing on the balcony, and renovation work in the bathroom, kitchen and living room. The agency included nearly $28,000 in mitigation funds to reinforce the facility and reduce the risk of future events.
Another of the nonprofit facilities receiving restoration funding was the Asociación Pro-Bienestar de la Familia Comerieña (Family Pro-Wellness Association) in Comerío. The nearly $25,000 allocation was used to repair the roofs of all three buildings, work that included repairing leaks and channeling rainwater, as well as to protect electrical equipment from voltage changes.
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