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Andrea L. Christian-Michel 6657 Mon Bijou Kingshill, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands 00850 340-208-0084 Statement of Hardship and Community Need Request for Use Variance – No. 395 Estate Whim, Frederiksted, St. Croix Good Day: Senate President Milton Potter, other members of the 36th Legislature, staff, the viewing and listening audience, I am Andrea L. Christian-Michel, Thank You for the opportunity to appear before you in support of my request for a Use Variance to establish Joyful Love Assisted Care and Daycare Center at No. 395 Estate Whim, Frederiksted, St. Croix. This request is based on both a personal commitment to caregiving and a growing need within our community for safe, supportive environments where seniors can receive compassionate care and meaningful daily engagement. My desire to serve seniors was deeply influenced by the loving examples of my paternal grandmother and my step-paternal grandmother, whose patience, kindness, and dedication to family shaped my values from an early age. Their examples inspired my lifelong respect for dignity, responsibility, and caring for others. Professionally, I have spent thirteen (13) years working as a paraprofessional, supporting individuals with varying needs, and I currently serve as a Classification Officer with the Bureau of Corrections, where professionalism, structure, and sound judgment are essential. My background also includes experience in the banking industry, co-ownership of a heavy equipment rental company, and ownership of several small businesses including a restaurant, mobile clothing boutique, and beauty parlor. These experiences have strengthened my leadership, responsibility, and ability to manage operations effectively. In addition to my professional background, I have significant personal caregiving experience. I cared for my mother after she was diagnosed with dementia, until her passing the following year. I also supported my stepfather during a difficult period in his life, and for the past fifteen years I have been the primary caregiver for my fifty-two-year-old disabled sister. These experiences have strengthened my patience, compassion, and understanding of the emotional and physical needs of individuals requiring daily care. The hardship that leads to this request is the limited availability of small, home-like care environments for seniors on the west side of St. Croix. Many families struggle to find safe and supportive spaces where their aging loved ones can receive supervision, companionship, and assistance while maintaining dignity and quality of life. Without approval of this use variance, the property cannot be utilized in a way that would address this growing community need. The proposed facility, Joyful Love Assisted Care and Daycare Center, will be located on approximately four-tenths of an acre and will operate within a residential-style home environment. The residence includes five bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, a living room that will also serve as a recreation area, and a kitchen and dining space designed to provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Outdoor space will include seating areas and a raised garden for light gardening and relaxation. The facility will provide structured activities that promote social interaction and emotional well-being, including arts and crafts, gardening, music sessions, movie days, bingo, community visits, and spiritual support through visiting clergy. Residents will receive three nutritious meals daily, snacks, and access to grooming services through visiting beauticians and barbers. Family engagement will be encouraged through designated visiting opportunities such as Family Saturdays, allowing loved ones to remain actively involved in residents’ lives. Joyful Love Assisted Care and Daycare Center will be operated with careful attention to maintaining the peaceful residential character of the neighborhood. The facility will remain clean, well-maintained, and responsibly managed, with minimal impact on surrounding properties. The purpose of this request is not simply to operate a facility, but to create a home-like environment where seniors can live with dignity, companionship, and care while providing families with peace of mind. Granting this Use Variance will allow this property to serve a meaningful community purpose while remaining compatible with the surrounding residential area. I respectfully ask for your support of this Use Variance request Thank you for your time, consideration, and dedication to the well-being of the St. Croix community. I remain available to answer any of your questions Respectfully Andrea L. Christian-Michel