Puerto Rico

Acacia Network’s history and that of its earliest affiliates is deeply rooted in the transformative work of Bronx-based Puerto Rican pioneers, who made important contributions to the fields of behavioral health and addiction services, particularly in underserved Latinx populations.

Throughout our 50+ year trajectory, we have remained close to our Puerto Rican roots, both through initiatives involving the diaspora in the mainland U.S., as well as targeted efforts to support organizations on the ground in Puerto Rico to help underserved communities across the island, particularly those most impacted by natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2012, we expanded our footprint to the island of Puerto Rico through the development of an affordable housing project for seniors, which enabled us to become further rooted in the community. We expanded our presence to include emergency relief following Hurricane Maria, the subsequent earthquakes, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

TO DONATE TO OUR RELIEF EFFORTS IN PUERTO RICO, CLICK HERE!

Our Impact in Puerto Rico

Affordable Housing: We provide 100+ units of affordable, green housing for vulnerable individuals through two primary developments: Palacio Dorado, an Energy Star-certified, affordable housing complex in Toa Alta that serves 100+ seniors; and our Resilient Prototype Home, a project in Caguas that will provide long-term sustainable, green, and resilient housing for two (2) low-moderate income families.

Workforce Development: Acacia Network is part of a multisector effort to develop the Puerto Rico Centro de Artes y Tecnología Corp. (PRCAT), established in 2018 to address deteriorating education and employment trends on the island, including a visual arts training program for at-risk youth and a career training program for adults-in-transition. PRCAT is working with the National Center of Arts and Technology to open a CAT in San Juan by 2022.

Relief Efforts: Acacia works with local partners to provide humanitarian aid on the ground in the communities most in need of resources, ensuring that our efforts strategically align with real needs. In 2020, we continued to solidify our presence in Puerto Rico through our earthquake relief efforts, which included visits to underserved communities to carry out wellness initiatives and provide essential supplies & equipment. Our efforts then pivoted to COVID-19 relief, as the pandemic further exacerbated health and economic disparities across the Island. Our COVID-19 efforts have included collaborative initiatives to conduct meal deliveries to 20,000+ households, as well as COVID-19 vaccination efforts. In addition, between 2020-2021, our FERIARTE Health Fairs have reached over 5,000 individuals across 17 municipalities.

In our efforts to provide immediate financial assistance to the victims of natural disasters, including Hurricanes Irma and Maria, in Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands, Acacia Network established Ayuda Puerto Rico, Inc., a 501(c)(3) Not-for-Profit organized under Section 402 of the NYS NFP Corporation Law. Through this nonprofit arm, and in collaboration with local experts and partners, we expanded our reach to many more collaborators and have been working to provide direct aid to individuals and families in underserved communities throughout the island.

Our Impact:

Puerto Rico Impact One-Pager

2018-2019 Ayuda Puerto Rico Report

2017 Intro Letter

We appreciate the support of our donors, partners, collaborators, and other supporters!

Our Partners:

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