Nonprofits call for stronger homelessness policy amid new legislative probe.

Executive director of the nonprofit organization Solo Por Hoy, Inc  Belinda Hill.

Solo Por Hoy welcomes Senate investigation led by Sen. Jamie Barlucea; urges multisector coordination to strengthen Puerto Rico’s response system

By THE STAR STAFF

A legislative investigation into Puerto Rico’s public policy on homelessness has prompted renewed calls from nonprofit leaders to reinforce coordination, accountability, and multisector participation in the island’s response system.

Belinda Hill, executive director of the nonprofit organization Solo Por Hoy, Inc., endorsed the initiative, describing it as a “key opportunity” to examine current practices and elevate the effectiveness of services for people experiencing homelessness.

The inquiry will be led by Sen. Jamie Barlucea Rodríguez, chair of the Senate Committee on Housing and Social Welfare, which in April will hold public hearings to evaluate the implementation and impact of Laws 130‑2007 and 199‑2007—statutes that structure the responsibilities of agencies serving the homeless population.

Hill emphasized the original role of the Concilio Multisectorial en Apoyo a la Población sin Hogar, created under Law 130‑2007 as a coordinating body and policy-setting entity rather than a direct service provider. Safeguarding this role, she said, is essential to ensuring a coherent, multisector approach to homelessness.

“Public policy must be built through collaboration and the participation of all sectors,” Hill said. “This legislative process allows us to evaluate what has worked, identify areas for improvement, and strengthen interagency coordination mechanisms that directly impact outcomes for people without housing.”

Hill also noted that the Concilio underwent a significant transformation in 2016. Initially housed under the Department of the Family, the entity was transferred to the Mental Health and Addiction Services Administration (ASSMCA) after a measure was approved on December 27 of that year—without public hearings.

The move followed the allocation of millions in federal funds to ASSMCA for homeless services; however, those funds were not sustained in subsequent years. The transition also shrank third‑sector participation on the Concilio by reducing nonprofit representation to four seats, a change that Hill argues weakened its multisector identity.

Hill stressed the need for public policy that reflects the diversity of Puerto Rico’s homeless population.

“Not all people experiencing homelessness have mental health conditions or substance-use disorders,” she noted. “In fact, approximately 52% of individuals living on the streets present neither condition. Policy must address multiple realities, not a single narrative.”

She added that maintaining clarity in institutional roles is critical: the Concilio is designed as a public policy body on homelessness, while ASSMCA—established in 1993—focuses specifically on mental health and addiction.

“Effective homelessness response requires every institution to operate within its mission,” Hill said. “Coordination is key, but it should not replace the Concilio’s multisector nature.”

Hill urged lawmakers to assess the consequences of relocating the Concilio to ASSMCA, noting that the transition has not yielded fully effective execution. She said there is a clear opportunity to strengthen the body’s functioning through a multisector, results‑driven approach.

Current challenges, she argued, should be viewed as a catalyst to align institutional roles, enhance accountability, and ensure that housing, mental health services, and social supports operate in an integrated and efficient manner.