Federal rule threatens 107,504 public housing and Section 8 residents in Puerto Rico, but the island will not adopt the cuts

A federal Housing Department (HUD) rule that would cut the eviction notice, impose a work requirement, and cap public housing stays at two years threatens 107,504 people in Puerto Rico. The good news for those families: the island's Public Housing Administration (AVP) said it does not foresee adopting those changes and that, for now, everything stays the same ¹².

Public Housing Administrator Juan Rosario Hernández assured that in Puerto Rico's 328 public housing developments there is no time limit, no cap on days, and no work-hour requirement to access services, and that the island will keep that flexibility at its discretion, as it has until now ¹. The clarification comes amid a federal proposal that, according to Ayuda Legal Puerto Rico, could be approved at any moment without Congress stepping in ³.

Context

The HUD proposal advanced in early 2026 and its public comment period closed on May 1, 2026 ². The executive director of Ayuda Legal Puerto Rico, Ariadna Godreau Aubert, described it bluntly: "this is a threat to thousands of people," and urged the Housing secretary, the Public Housing administrator, and communities to close ranks ³. Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández also publicly opposed the punitive measures in the federal plan ².

The numbers

In Puerto Rico, the changes would hit 107,504 people: 48,323 families (95,108 participants) in public housing and 12,396 people assisted by the Housing Choice Voucher Program, known as Section 8 ². These are the cuts HUD proposes:

• Eviction notice: eliminate the current 30-day notice. The proposal would drop it to 14 days in public housing and as few as 5 days in other programs ².
• Work requirement: people ages 18 to 61, without caregiving duties or a disability, would have to work up to 40 hours a week to keep the aid ².
• Time limit: a two-year cap on stays, on the premise that this is not permanent housing ².
• Mixed-status families: prorated assistance would be eliminated for households with ineligible immigrant members, forcing families to choose between the roof and family unity ².

Puerto Rico has the power to decide whether to adopt these rules, and for now it keeps operating as before ¹.

What it means for you

If you live in public housing or hold a Section 8 voucher, today you do not lose your home for reaching two years, you cannot be required to work 40 hours as a condition, and you keep your 30-day notice before an eviction ¹. None of that changed on the island. But the federal rule is alive and could be triggered, so it pays to know your rights, keep your file current, and know who to call if you get a termination letter.

How to do it / Checklist

1. Confirm your situation with the AVP. Call the main line at 787-759-9407 or the toll-free line 1-855-297-0139 (TTY 711), Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The central office is at 606 Ave. Barbosa, Juan C. Cordero Building, San Juan ¹.
2. If you want to apply for or are on the Section 8 waitlist, use avp.pr.gov/solicitud-de-vivienda-seccion-8 or call (787) 274-2527, extension #2. Have ready your CRIM negative certification, criminal background certificate, and proof of income ⁴.
3. If you get an eviction or termination notice, do not leave your home. In Puerto Rico the 30-day notice still applies. Respond in writing, request a payment plan, and keep a copy of everything ¹⁴.
4. Seek free legal help. Ayuda Legal Puerto Rico offers guidance at ayudalegalpr.org and has a services directory at ayudalegalpr.org/find-legal-help/directory ⁴.
5. Keep your income recertification current so you do not lose the benefit over a technicality ⁴.
6. Watch the federal changes. If HUD reopens the comment period, submitting your input is the most direct way to defend your housing ³.

What comes next

The HUD rule could be finalized at the federal level at any moment ³. Puerto Rico retains the discretion not to adopt the time limits, the work requirement, or the shortened eviction notice, and the AVP has said that is its stance ¹. The pressure, though, is tied to federal funds, so community organizations are calling for vigilance. Save these phone numbers, keep your file complete, and, faced with any letter, seek guidance before signing or moving.