Multisector alliance places 114 homeless people in permanent housing in record time

Dr. Catherine Oliver, head of the Mental Health and Anti-Addiction Services Administration

By The Star Staff

The Mental Health and Anti-Addiction Services Administration (ASSMCA by its initials in Spanish) and the Moriviví Coordinator announced Tuesday that they managed to place 114 homeless people in permanent housing in just 100 days, surpassing the initial goal of 100. The challenge, called “100 in 100,” ended a week before the deadline and was carried out in 54 municipalities, including Vieques and Culebra.

The effort included collaboration with the Housing Department, Housing Finance Authority, Family Department, CESCO, the Demographic Registry, the Water and Sewer Authority, and LUMA Energy. During the celebration of the achievement, held at the Old Ponce Casino, 10 key entities were recognized and testimonies of people who managed to escape homelessness were heard.

ASSMCA Administrator Dr. Catherine Oliver noted that “housing is one of the most important social determinants of health.”

“At ASSMCA, we recognize the importance of having stable and safe housing to ensure treatment adherence, achieve emotional stability, and promote overall well-being,” she said.

The initiative successfully placed 27 chronically homeless people in housing, while the average age of the heads of household was 47. The average time the individuals spent on the streets was 561 days.

Keilyn Vale, principal officer of the Moriviví Coordinator, emphasized that “this achievement demonstrates that eradicating homelessness is possible when we join forces and work in a coordinated manner.”

“It’s not just about reaching a numerical goal, but about demonstrating what we can achieve when we prioritize human dignity,” she said.

The rapid relocation model, previously used after disasters, was adapted for the initiative as a permanent and effective strategy.