For the past 24 years, 76-year-old Ana Robles has lived in a house in the heart of Manatí, Puerto Rico—one that, at best, could be described as uninhabitable. The structure had long fallen into disrepair, with a leaking roof, unstable electrical wiring, and since 2019, limited access to clean potable water.
In 2021, Doña Ana applied for assistance through the Puerto Rico Department of Housing. She was awarded a $160,000 voucher through the R3 CDBG-DR program to purchase a new home. But despite this promising opportunity, finding a suitable property in Manatí proved nearly impossible. Two challenges stood in the way: a lack of affordable housing options and a shortage of realtors willing or able to work with R3 CDBG-DR funds.
Her story came to our attention when it was featured on Puerto Rico’s local news channel, TeleOnce. At the time, Hogar Hispano Inc. was in the process of rehabilitating a property in Manatí. With our experience navigating R3 CDBG-DR programs, we recognized the opportunity to step in and help.
Maggie Cabanillas, Director of HHI’s Puerto Rico Program, immediately reached out to the Municipality of Manatí and made contact with Doña Ana.
The very next day, Maggie met with Doña Ana, showed her the Villa Rosa property, and began the process of connecting her with a realtor familiar with R3 CDBG-DR closings. She also helped Ana access housing counseling and gather the necessary documentation to move forward.
What followed was a six-month-long process that tested Doña Ana’s patience and resilience. Though HHI completed renovations on the home by January 2025, bureaucratic delays between FEMA, the third-party contractor managing closing documents, and the Puerto Rico Department of Housing meant Ana had to continue living in dangerous and deteriorating conditions until now.
Throughout this time, Doña Ana made repeated trips from Manatí to Barceloneta to follow up with Vivienda offices, often delivering the same documents she’d already submitted. The constant delays and duplicative requests made the wait especially exhausting.
In June, during a site visit to Puerto Rico, HHI Executive Director Marcos Morales, Bookkeeper Damaris Avilés, Maggie Cabanillas, Alexandra Astor visited Doña Ana—first at her current home, then at the Villa Rosa property. Standing in what would soon be her new home, Ana called it her “dream home of neverending waiting.”
Now, after months of persistence and advocacy, that wait is finally over.
On July 31, 2025, Doña Ana officially closed on her new home in Villa Rosa for $155,000.
A proud Puerto Rican and lifelong seamstress, Ana spent most of her working years in the sewing industry—assembling uniforms, lingerie, and countless other products once manufactured on the island. Though she no longer enjoys sewing, she finds joy in crafting and plans to turn the basement of her new home into a cozy studio space, where she can create alongside friends and fill the air with conversation and laughter.
We are honored to have walked alongside Doña Ana during this journey. Her story is a reminder of why we do this work—and of the power of persistence, community, and care.
A new chapter begins for Doña Ana Robles, and we couldn’t be happier for her.
Special thanks to our partner realtor and R3 program specialist, Bradley Rivera, our partner law firm in Puerto Rico, Martínez & Torres, Nuria Sebazco and the TeleOnce News cast for sharing Ana’s story, and most of all, to Doña Ana Robles for allowing us to be part of her journey and letting us tell it.
🎥 Video & Editing: Luis Abreu