Across the United States, the private market alone fails to meet the housing needs of the lowest-income renters, and insufficient federal housing assistance fails to make up for it. Puerto Rico is no different, but its territorial status and economic conditions create unique housing challenges. The island has experienced an array of significant hardships in the past twenty years. As a result, too few homes are affordable and available to Puerto Rican renters with the lowest incomes. 

In 2024, Our Homes, Our Votes launched the Pilot Communities initiative to strengthen engagement with low-income renters throughout the electoral process, foster partnerships with subsidized housing providers, and assess the impact of nonpartisan voter engagement.