From left to right: Father Feliciano from Immaculate Conception church; Efraín Maldonado, HUD Puerto Rico Field Office Director; Isolina Miranda, Executive Director of Hogar Rayos de Esperanza; Ana M. Castro, coordinator of Hogar Rayos de Esperanza; Alfredo Alejandro, Mayor of Juncos; Rosario Rodriguez, resident; Hector Mayor, Administrator of Retiro; Jose Rivera, Executive Director of Housing and Human Development Trust, and Julio Chevres from USDA Rural Development.

A new opportunity for homeless men to start over became a reality in Juncos. Village Esperanza, a brand new transitional housing facility with nine units will provide two years of housing and services to men while they get back on their feet. Services offered onsite aim at helping them regain means to live independently. HUD investment in this project includes $770,989 of HOME funds and $491,268 of SHIP money, awarded to the Corporación de Seguros de Salud y Medicina Avanzada ,COSSMA. Each unit has one bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, dining room, living room and a balcony. The communal area has a gazebo, laundry, parking and controlled entry. Among the services offered are individualized attention, coordination and referral of services and transportation.