ST. THOMAS, USVI – The Committee on Housing, Transportation and Telecommunications, chaired by Marvin A. Blyden met in the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall. Lawmakers received testimony concerning the Virgin Islands Housing Authority’s operational, fiscal, and human resource status, as well as the outlook for affordable housing supply and demand.  Additionally, senators also received testimony concerning the status of home ownership programs in the territory, the status of home repair programs, emergency housing, and programs that address housing instability.

Dwayne Alexander, Executive Director of the Virgin Islands Housing Authority provided a review of its current operations. VIHA manages 22 developments in the territory totaling 2,426 units. It is expected that the inventory will decline to 2,000 units due to demolitions and redevelopment initiatives. The authority targets building 300 units annually to meet needs. Alexander stated that before the 2017 Hurricanes, the Authority already needed over $200 Million in deferred improvements needed to its housing stock, with the hurricanes adding approximately $240 million in damage. In response, a 10-year plan to replace aging infrastructure was implemented. However, this has since been revised to 3-4 years due to the high cost of construction. The approach includes using remaining federal funds designated for addressing disaster related damage and mitigating long term damage.

The Authority is currently advancing four redevelopment projects in the territory, including the Walter IM Hodge Pavillion and the D. Hamilton Jackson Terrace on St. Croix, and the Estate Donoe Development and The Tutu North Senior Redevelopment. Also, homeownership opportunities are being fostered through the sale of homes at Williams Delight Villas. Over $100-$120 million in FEMA funding is targeted to improve building enclosures at various communities in the territory.  Through the Williams Delight Homeownership Project, 44 residents have become homeowners. 35 have made downpayments to purchase their homes.

The Housing Choice Voucher Program has served 1,414 families, with a 68% utilization rate.  There are both tenant based and project-based vouchers, with 2,733 applicants on the tenant-based waiting list and 3,575 on the project-based list. Currently, there is a two to three year wait on the list. The lists remain open for new applicants. During Fiscal Year 2024, the program received over 500 rent increase requests from landlords in the territory and continues to receive an influx of requests for rent increases.   The Authority’s occupancy rate was 90.6% at the end of FY 2024 and currently stands at 92.51%. There was a 29% increase in work orders opened and a 98.5% percent closing rate reported in terms of work orders closed.  Currently, the Authority has 200 budgeted positions. There are 169 regular employees, with 31 vacancies.

Senator Blyden voiced concern over the amount of maintenance staff, stating that it was key to the quality of life in the communities. Additionally, he stated that it was important for the authority to onboard more necessary personnel to boost employee morale.  Blyden also stressed the importance of better coordination and communication regarding housing issues in the territory.

Dan Derima, Executive Director of Meeting the Needs of Our Community spoke regarding the issues that have plagued those with housing instability. Derima stated that the extent of housing instability is disheartening. These numbers include drifters, ineligible veterans, persons with mental disabilities, unemployment and other issues. There are no homes, shelters or government run facilities to accommodate various issues. MTOC, a nonprofit entity houses three males and five females in a single room occupancy building, subsidized by the Virgin Islands Housing Authority. MTOC offers no emergency housing opportunities due to the lack of housing units and lack of funds.

Additionally, Derima, in his capacity as the Chair of the Virgin Islands Continuum of Care Council on Homelessness stated that the organization is currently not in compliance with the HUD mandate to implement a Coordinated Entry System. There are three HUD CoC grants, which are all managed by MTOC. These include Homeless Management Information Systems, MTOC Permanent Supportive Housing 203, and Permanent Supportive Housing.  HUD also requires each CoC to conduct a Point in Time count to assess the number of individuals experiencing homelessness, done on a single night in January. The most recent PIT count, which occurred on January 24, 2025, totaled 304 unsheltered people, including 185 in St. Thomas, 98 in St. Croix and 21 in St. John. This number did not include those who were “couch surfing”, likely meaning that the true number was much higher. Derima stated that they were working to integrate data from the Department of Health and Department of Human Services. During the last housing Inventory Count in 2023 which identified the inventory of beds for homelessness services, there were 16 emergency shelter beds, 53 transitional housing beds, and 23 permanent supportive housing beds.  Additionally, Derima voiced concern over the lack of an emergency shelter, the over two years wait for public housing and limited section 8 availability, increasing risk of recidivism and impacting public safety.  

Andrea Shillingford, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands stated that housing is a major determinant of the health and well-being of our people, and that strategies needed to be developed to help move people off the streets that are logically effective, financially feasible, and supportive of human dignity.  Shillingford stated that according to the HUD, there are several categories including, Literally Homeless, Imminent risk of homelessness, homelessness under other statutes, and fleeing domestic violence. Hidden homelessness would include those who are couch surfing, the elderly in emergency shelters and hospital boarders. Catholic Charities is one agency that works with the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority as an intake rental assistance program.  This provided 20 vouchers for permanent housing to homeless individuals. Catholic Charities operates the Bethlehem House Shelter for the Homeless in St. Thomas, which has a capacity of 40 beds, and St. Theresa of Calcutta House of Home on St. Croix which provides 11 fully furnished studio apartments.

Eugene Jones, Executive Director of the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority stated that affordable housing and homeownerships are facing significant challenges nationally and locally. Challenges have included factors that have remained outside of the authority’s control, such as high construction costs, rising insurance premiums, contractor shortages, workforce constraints, supply chain disruptions, increased property values, high living costs and the lasting effects of previous natural disasters. The Authority has continued to work with the Office of Disaster Recovery to manage and implement projects that are funded by CDBG-DR grants.  ODR remains the primary resource for all disaster recovery projects. Major challenges that have been noted regarding the EnVision program, has been probate issues, including issues such as deceased parents with no will, resulting in children inheriting homes, applicants dying during the process, inability to afford legal assistance, and lengthy probate proceedings. A voluntary probate assistance program was started in 2021 to help low to moderate income applicants, A total of five enrolled, three in St. Thomas and two in St. Croix. However, the Supreme Court informed the Authority that it lacks the authority to assist with probate. It is currently awaiting a final decision.

The Homeownership Division offered based financial literacy classes, which were offered to residents of William’s Delight.  Additionally, one on one sessions were provided to those candidates, which resulted in five successful completions. A 7-week course resulted in 27 graduates in the first session, with 40 enrolled and another session scheduled for July 9.  VIHFA offers various mortgage programs, such as HOME Funding, the Homestead Program, the Veteran Loan Program, Moderate Income Program, and The First Time Homebuyers Moderate Income Program. VIHFA also oversees operations of emergency housing in the territory. These include units in St. Thomas at Staabiland Apartments, Charlotte Apartments, and Taarenberg Emergency Housing and units in St. Croix at the Anna’s Hope Emergency Housing Campo Rico Emergency Housing, and Profit Hills Emergency Housing.

The Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) has been assisted with the release of $5.5 Million in January 2025, which brings the total funding received through ERA 1 and ERA2 to $23.3 million. The Authority also continues to administer the Emergency Rental Program, which seeks to assist qualifying residents who experienced hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has committed $17.9 Million and expended $16.3 million to date. Over 2,000 applications have been processed and $11.6 million in aid has been distributed. The Housing Stability Program was launched in 2023, through subrecipient Legal Services of the Virgin Islands, which committed $1.4 million to provide legal services to those at risk of homelessness. The Homeowner Assistance Fund delivered $8.5 Million to the territory, with eligible applicants receiving $65,000 in financial assistance.

Blyden urged ways to streamline the process to complete the construction of housing in the territory. While he seemed concerned over the work that needed to be done, he urged collaboration to complete the task at hand.

Senators present at today’s committee hearing included Marvin A. Blyden, Clifford A. Joseph, Sr., Angel L. Bolques, Jr., Dwayne M. DeGraff, Novelle E. Francis, Jr., Alma Francis-Heyliger, Ray Fonseca, Marise C. James, and Carla J. Joseph.

The Division of Public Affairs is committed to providing the community with accurate information on legislative proceedings and other events at the Legislature of the Virgin Islands. Visit legvi.org.                 

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