Loiza Lifeline

Abstract

Puerto Rico is vulnerable to natural disasters with minimal recovery assistance, and low-income residents and communities face significant risks of damage. As an unincorporated territory of the United States of America, they have minimal political power or ability to reach out to international organizations for assistance. Puerto Rico has faced economic, financial, and environmental challenges since 2017. After Hurricane Maria, many people fled the island in search of better living conditions, which depressed the economy and led to a decline in employment. As half of the population resides in the coastal region, they are the most vulnerable to tropical cyclones, facing severe impacts with little protection from natural or manmade shields. There is a five-month period during which tropical storms threaten the island, leaving the community with minimal time to recover. With limited resources, residents living along the coast in informal housing have become responsible for rebuilding their homes. Their inability to sufficiently rebuild them impacts their well-being and future harm. Residents asked for financial assistance from organizations such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), but have been unsuccessful due to their inability to provide proper home ownership documents. With the median income of residents at $24,000 and the high cost of living, a resilient structure will provide affordable housing along the coast, so residents are prepared for future disasters. How often must a community rebuild before the government realizes that resilient design is its solution? A solution is to design a resilient, affordable housing structure as a mixed-use building. This building will provide commercial business on the ground level and housing above, allowing tourists to experience the resilient design, bringing economic and employment benefits.