VALLEY FORGE, PA (10/23/2026)—ABHMS’ longtime community outreach partner in Puerto Rico, Corporación Milagros del Amor (CorMA), changes lives in profound ways. One of the people served by CorMA is Edwin, a man who lived a life full of hardships. He was born deaf but did not know sign language. He survived by running an informal car wash where he also lived. He entered CorMA’s programs in June 2021 and little by little, his life became easier. He learned sign language and developed literacy skills. He was finally able to access medical care, apply for Social Security benefits, and purchase a car. Such a transformation required more resources and time than a one-time encounter with a service organization could provide.
Workers for CorMA offload a truck containing bottled water destined for distribution to Puerto Rico residents suffering under a protracted freshwater shortage this summer.
ABHMS understands the need for sustained service and is committed to supporting its partners with operational and various other grants. CorMA grew out of First Baptist Church Caguas, Puerto Rico. It serves people like Edwin—those experiencing homelessness, poverty, and social exclusion. It provides a very wide range of resources: permanent housing, case management, psychological support, food, clothing, and hygiene facilities. In 2026, it has housed—and protected—45 formerly unhoused people. CorMA receives grants from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, but they do not cover every administrative expense.
“For organizations like CorMA, grants funding specific programs are more easily accessible,” said Rev. Abigail Medina Betancourt, national coordinator of Intercultural Engagement at American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) and associate program director of Creciendo Juntos, an ABHMS program that seeks to build capacity for Latino ministries. “Providing long-term consistent services requires regular funding.”
Importantly, CorMA’s mission highlights that adequate housing is a fundamental human right. Helping unhoused people to gain access to housing is not an act of charity, but fulfilment of a sacred commitment we have as Christians to help others thrive. “Our commitment is to serve with love, following the example of Jesus through our multidisciplinary team of professionals,” said Gladys Rodriguez, executive director of CorMA.
In 2026, CorMA also received a disaster preparedness grant which allowed it to distribute bags with supplies for disasters to unhoused people. Puerto Rico experiences natural disasters—hurricanes, droughts, earthquakes, and mudslides—very often. At those times, unhoused people are among the most vulnerable.
Recently, CorMA worked with ABHMS to secure access to water for residents amid the ongoing water crisis in Puerto Rico. “Water is a basic service, and we lack it, even though we pay for the service. It is not given to us for free!” wrote Rodriguez in her letter to ABHMS. As part of the collaboration with ABHMS and Iglesias Bautistas de Puerto Rico, CorMA now serves as one of 10 disaster response centers. ABHMS contributions included a 400-gallon cistern to provide water to the community during the water rationing, as well as 160 gallons of water and 1600 16-oz water bottles for unhoused people. ABHMS’ water relief strengthens the infrastructure necessary for CorMA to continue serving vulnerable people.
“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly,” said Jesus (John 10:10). Join ABHMS in its mission to support those who heal and transform communities so they can flourish abundantly by giving here.
By Rev. Dr. Anna Piela, ABHMS senior writer and editor of The Christian Citizen