Committee on Housing, Transportation and Telecommunications

BLOCK I                                                                                                                                                  9:00 A.M.

The Committee will hear testimony from the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority regarding homelessness in the Territory and the status of federal programs supporting homeless assistance, including the HOME Program, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and the HOME-ARP Program. Testimony will focus on current program utilization, provider participation and funding awards, barriers to effective service delivery, and any known changes or risks affecting the stability and outlook of future federal funding.

Invited Testifiers:
Eugene Jones, Executive Director, Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority
Honorable Averil George, Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of Human Services
Honorable Mario M. Brooks, Commissioner, Virgin Islands Police Department
Wynnie Testamark, Director, Virgin Islands Bureau of Corrections
Dr. Suzanne Darrow-Magras, Board Secretary, Continuum of Care
Dan Derima, Executive Director, Meeting the Needs of The Community, Inc.
Andrea Shillingford, Executive Director, Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands
Junia John-Straker, Chief Executive Officer, Lutheran Social Services

BLOCK II                                                                                                                                                 12:30 P.M.

Jackson Development Company, LLC is requested to provide testimony regarding ongoing maintenance and repair deficiencies at tax credit residential properties acquired in 2024, including serious housing code violations at the Calabash Boom housing complex, where residents have been without sanitation facilities since December 10, 2025, creating an unresolved public health hazard. This hearing will assist the Committee in evaluating compliance with statutory housing standards, determining the need for legislative or oversight action, and examining the role of the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority in the approval, monitoring, and post-transfer compliance of the subject properties

Invited Testifiers:
Eugene Jones, Executive Director, Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority
Bob Jackson, Executive Director, Founder/Managing Partner, Jackson Development Company, LLC

BLOCK III                                                                                                                                                2:30 P.M.

The Committee will hear testimony from the Virgin Islands Housing Authority on the status of its operations and the state of affordable housing programs in the Territory, including the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Program, with emphasis on current performance, major projects, and challenges affecting service delivery. Testimony will also address the growing number of constituent complaints regarding maintenance conditions at VIHA properties, including the status of maintenance operations, strategies to address deferred repairs, and any resource constraints contributing to these issues.

Invited Testifier:
Dwayne Alexander, Executive Director, Virgin Islands Housing Authority

BLOCK IV                                                                                                                                                4:30 P.M.

Consideration of offer to Accept Real Property (Road Plot 1-1 Spanish town, Road Plot 2-1 Estate Annaberg and Shannon Grove, Road Plot 5-1, Road Plot 10-1 and Road Plot 11-1 Estate Blessing, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands) in Lieu of Property Taxes in accordance with Title 33, Section 2494a, Virgin Islands Code

Invited Testifiers:
Ludence Romney, Tax Assessor, Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Honorable Vincent Roberts, Commissioner, Department of Sports, Parks & Recreation
Jehangir Zakaria, Vice-President, General Manager, Chief Operating Officer, St. Croix Renaissance Group