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LEGISLATURE HOLDS TRI ISLAND HOUSING TOWN HALL - Legislature of the United States Virgin Islands Close About Us History Functions and Structure FY 2026 Budget Honor Roll Rules of the 36th Legislative Youth Advisory Council Application Careers Archives Legislative Archives Tours × St. Thomas Senators  St. John Senators  St.Croix Senators  Districts All Senators St. Croix St. Thomas - St. John Senator at Large × Committees Committee of the Whole Budget, Appropriation and Finance Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports, and Parks Disaster Recovery, Infrastructure and Planning Economic Development and Agriculture Education and Workforce Development Government Operations, Veteran Affairs and Consumer Protection Health, Hospitals and Human Services Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety Housing, Transportation and Telecommunications Rules and Judiciary Session Folder × No event found! Calendars Bi-Weekly Senate Calendar Session Agenda × Dialog window Dialog window General Senators Committees Media Calendars Contact HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS | Press Releases | Senator Marvin A. Blyden | Uncategorized LEGISLATURE HOLDS TRI ISLAND HOUSING TOWN HALL Published: Aug 30, 2023 Search for: ST. THOMAS – Convening simultaneously at the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall, the Cleone H. Creque Legislative Conference Room on St. John, and the Fritz E. Lawaetz Conference Room on St. Croix, the Legislature of the Virgin Islands held a tri-island town hall discussing the Virgin Islands Housing Authority’s 2024 Annual Plan in advance of the September 5, 2023 deadline for public comment. Chair of the Committee on Housing, Transportation and Telecommunications, Senator Marvin A. Blyden reminded the public that the Virgin Islands, like the United States mainland was in the middle of a housing crisis. Blyden informed the audience that paying attention to public comment was incredibly important to the housing plan. Blyden stated that without affordable housing to raise families, people will not stay in the US Virgin Islands. The Annual Plan is required by the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. It guides the VI Housing Authority’s operations and spending for the coming year. VIHA must take public comment when finalizing its annual plan. The VIHA currently has 4,612 combined units. This includes 2,525 public housing units, and 2,087 housing choice vouchers. The current stock of the Authority is at least 60 years old. According to the Authority, it was poorly designed and inadequately designed. There is a 10 year, $2 billion-dollar plan to replace the housing stock. This plan replaces 3,000 obsolete units of public housing and does not meet the projected need of 5,000 units. Updates proposed in the plan include the hiring of a third-party vendor to hear grievances, an increase in the security deposit required to secure an apartment $205 to $500, increase of housekeeping inspections, and the establishment of an online payment portal. Various members of the community voiced concerns regarding the plan, as it related to income requirements for public housing, availability of units, as well as rent to own options. Community members voiced concern over lack of home ownership programs in the St. Thomas-St. John district. Housing choice vouchers were also of major concern. Housing options for those who have returned to the community after serving time for criminal offenses were critiqued, citing lack of proper policy and procedures. In a closing statement, Blyden stated that the housing crisis was real and apparent, as well as stating that it was imperative that we do everything possible to improve the housing situation in the territory. Senators present at today’s town hall included Marvin A. Blyden Marise C. James., Angel L. Bolques, Jr, Samuel Carrión, Diane T. Capehart, Dwayne M. Degraff, Kenneth L. Gittens, Ray Fonseca, 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 Find More Search for: Categories News Observances Press Releases Special Events Related Content COMMITTEE REVIEWS FY 2027 EXECUTIVE BUDGET REQUESTS FOR GOVERNOR’S OFFICE, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR’S OFFICE, AND BUREAU OF MOTOR VEHICLES July 23, 2026 ST. CROIX, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS – Members of the Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance, chaired by Senator Novelle E. Francis Jr., met in the Frits E. Lawaetz Conference Room to receive testimony on the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budgets for... 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