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Phone (340) 693-3567 Email: MBlyden@Legvi.org ~ YOUR CHOICE FOR SOLUTIONS ~ Committee Report Committee on Housing, Transportation, & Telecommunications The Committee on Housing, Transportation & Telecommunications convened on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 9:15 a.m. in the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Chambers on St. Thomas to receive testimony from various Governmental Agencies regarding Homelessness and Homeownership. As well as the current maintenance issues occurring at the Jackson Development Company’s properties and the consideration of offer to Accept Real Property In lieu of Property Taxes. The Committee heard 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 focused 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. Jackson Development Company, LLC was 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 assisted 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. The Committee also heard 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 The Honorable Marvin A. Blyden Senator Legislature of the Virgin Islands CAPITOL BUILDING, P.O. BOX 1690 ST. THOMAS, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS 00804 (340) 774-0880 CHAIRMAN Housing, Transportation & Telecommunications VICE CHAIR Budget, Appropriations & Finance MEMBER Economic Development & Agriculture Culture, Youth, Aging & Parks Health, Hospitals, & Human Services Phone (340) 693-3567 Fax (340) 693-3636 Courriel SenatorBlyden@Gmail.com ~ YOUR CHOICE FOR SOLUTIONS ~ addressed 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. Lastly, 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. Legislative Voting on Motion to Disapprove Offer to Accept Real Estate Property In lieu of Property Taxes. Committee Members Y/N Senator Marvin A. Blyden, Chair Y Senator Clifford A. Joseph, Sr. Absent Senator Ray Fonseca Y Senator Dwayne M. DeGraff Absent Senator Marise C. James Y Senator Carla Joseph Y Senator Kurt A. Vialet Absent Legislative Attendance Committee Members Present Non-Committee Members Present Senator Marvin A. Blyden, Chair Senator Novelle E. Francis Senator Clifford A. Joseph, Sr. Senator Avery Lewis Senator Ray Fonseca Senator Dwayne M. DeGraff - Excused Senator Marise C. James Senator Carla Joseph Senator Kurt A. Vialet Phone (340) 693-3567 Fax (340) 693-3636 Courriel SenatorBlyden@Gmail.com ~ YOUR CHOICE FOR SOLUTIONS ~ Invited Testifiers Eugene Jones, Executive Director, Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority Averil George, Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of Human Services 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 Office, Luthern Social Services Bob Jackson, Executive Director, Founder/Managing Partner, Jackson Development Company, LLC Dwayne Alexander, Executive Director, Virgin Islands Housing Authority Ludence Romney, Tax Assessor, Office of the Lieutenant Governor Vincent Roberts, Commissioner, Department of Sports, Parks, & Recreation Jehangir Zakaria, Vice-President, General Manager, Chief Operating Officer, St. Croix Renaissance Group The Committee on Housing, Transportation & Telecommunications adjourned at 5:41 p.m. Prepared by: _______________________________ Vanessa Ortiz Williams Chief Legislative Researcher