El Caño Martín Peña (CMP), a cluster of eight historically informal neighborhoods in San Juan, Puerto Rico, faces long-standing challenges of inadequate infrastructure, persistent flooding, and displacement pressures. In response, the G8 collective—a coalition representing these communities—and the Martín Peña Canal Community Land Trust (CLT) establishment have developed a participatory planning model prioritizing resilience and housing security. This unique and exemplary model of a participatory planning case study, grounded in document analysis and participant observation, explores how the G8 and CLT have driven transformative improvements in CMP, addressing informality, mitigating flood risks, and preventing displacement. Findings highlight how community-driven governance fosters trust and enhances long-term sustainability, offering valuable insights for equitable urban development and spatial justice.

This study examines the factors influencing home elevation decisions among participants in Houston’s Homeowner Assistance Program (HoAP) and the Texas General Land Office’s Homeowner Assistance Program (HAP) in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and other flood events. Using a mixed-methods approach, we conducted surveys and semi-structured interviews with 50 homeowners, supplemented by secondary data analyses of program records and GIS-based flood risk assessments. Additionally, 25 undergraduate students engaged in a structured field trip, conducting site observations, interacting with residents, and discussing home elevation with experts. The findings reveal disparities in home elevation outcomes, with lower completion rates in socially vulnerable neighborhoods despite program eligibility. The study also identifies key factors influencing elevation decisions, including mobility concerns, financial constraints, neighborhood esthetics, and perceptions of long-term flood risk. Homeowners aged 60–79 were more likely to elevate their homes, while individuals with disabilities faced additional barriers. This research highlights the need for targeted policy interventions to improve program equity and ensure that vulnerable populations receive adequate support. Beyond its case study implications, this research contributes to broader discussions on disaster recovery, climate adaptation, and urban resilience. It also serves as a model for integrating student learning into community-based participatory research. While this study is limited in scope, it offers insights into the intersection of social vulnerability and housing adaptation, informing future policy efforts to enhance flood resilience in historically marginalized communities.

La resiliencia de Puerto Rico y su futura recuperación dependen en gran parte de su capacidad institucional para desarrollar una sólida gobernanza pública a nivel estatal y local. El objetivo de este escrito es analizar el desarrollo de la capacidad institucional en el manejo de los fondos del Programa de Asistencia Pública de FEMA por el Municipio de Coamo, en momentos de crisis fiscal a nivel municipal utilizando la óptica de postulados del Centro para una Nueva Economía. El desarrollo de capacidad institucional es el proceso mediante el cual el gobierno fortalece sus habilidades para realizar funciones esenciales, resolver problemas, definir y lograr objetivos, y entender y responder a sus necesidades de desarrollo sostenible en el corto y largo plazo. La investigación se enfoca en identificar situaciones donde la capacidad institucional municipal se ve limitada por austeridad, con el fin de indagar sobre cómo se ha desarrollado dicha capacidad, si ha sido de una manera innovadora, creativa y/o positiva. Esto, para prevenir y gestionar el impacto de un desastre futuro y/o escenarios por crisis fiscal y calentamiento global.