More Than Roofs

building community together in Puerto Rico

Techos Pa’ Mi Gente translates to “Roofs for My People,” but the work of this organization, born in a Puerto Rican garage in San Juan with neighbors helping neighbors after Hurricane Maria, is about so much more than rafters, nails, and sheetmetal. The true work of Techos Pa’ Mi Gente is about strengthening the community for the future. 

Using volunteer labor to augment a locally-hired and trained crew, Techos Pa’ Mi Gente repairs dozens of homes each year. They construct roofs and help restore the interiors of homes damaged nine years ago during the destructive 2017 hurricane season. Alongside the home repair work, the team hosts supply giveaways, community artmaking, skills and preparedness workshops, and gardening days in the community garden on their campus. Healing, resilience, and genuine disaster recovery are rooted in relationships, in connections even stronger than the new hurricane-rated roofs.

Since 2017, Week of Compassion has worked alongside the Iglesia Cristiana (Discipulos de Cristo) en Puerto Rico to support ongoing hurricane recovery and disaster resilience across Puerto Rico. Mutual partnership with Techos Pa’ Mi Gente developed as volunteer opportunities were restarting following the pandemic shutdowns. When sudden cuts to the AmeriCorps program disrupted staffing at Techos Pa’ Mi Gente, Week of Compassion provided operational support to help stabilize the organization while they made the necessary adjustments. That funding, along with support from other ecumenical partners, enabled Techos Pa’ Mi Gente to continue doing the work of building homes and building community. 

Mrs. Carmen Frias and her husband are part of that community. When Hurricane Maria struck the island, the powerful storm completely tore off the wooden and zinc roof of their modest concrete home in Carolina, forcing them to seek shelter in a neighbor’s home. In the aftermath of the disaster, they did their best to rebuild with the limited resources available to them. Although they received $5,000 in assistance from FEMA, most of those funds were allocated to replacing essential household items, clothing, and basic necessities. As a result, only temporary repairs could be made to the damaged roof. 

​​For years, the deteriorated roof continued to create serious hardships. Large holes and severely damaged wooden structures allowed rainwater to pour into the house with every storm. To cope, the couple placed buckets throughout their home to collect water leaking from the ceiling and rearranged their living space into the only concrete section located at the front of the house. 

---

Beyond the physical damage, the condition of the home had taken an emotional toll on the family. Mrs. Carmen shared that her granddaughters were unable to visit or stay overnight because the house was no longer safe or comfortable. This situation limited precious family moments and affected her emotional well-being. Now, with a secure roof and restored home, the family can gather in comfort and confidence. 

​Despite the challenges they faced, Mrs. Carmen remained positive and actively engaged throughout the assistance process. When volunteers were on site with Techos Pa’ Mi Gente earlier this year, she worked alongside a neighbor to prepare meals for the volunteer brigade. Her husband, Franklin, who earns a living through occasional construction jobs, showed great enthusiasm and determination to participate directly in the restoration of their home. 

Restoring their roof was more than a construction project: it was an opportunity to provide safety, stability, dignity, and the chance to strengthen family connections for years to come.

This is where Week of Compassion is eager to engage – bringing Disciples and innovative local leadership together to create pathways to recovery that provide tangible hope and new possibility for survivors right in their own communities.Your gracious gifts of prayer, volunteer time, and money help make work like this possible. 

+ download a PDF of this story +