Committee Report — March 28, 2025
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 Friday, March 28, 2025, at 9:10 a.m. in the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Chambers on St. Thomas to receive testimony from the Virgin Islands Housing Authority, the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority, and the Non-Profit Housing Assistance Programs: Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands, Meeting the Needs of the Community, Inc. and VI Continuum of Care. Discussion topics included: • Overview on the overall operational, fiscal, and human resources status of the Virgin Islands Housing Authority. • The outlook for the supply and demand for affordable housing in the territory. • The status of the Housing Choice Voucher Program. • The status of the Emergency Housing Vouchers. • The status of public housing, renovations, and senior housing. • The status of resident empowerment programs. …
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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 Friday, March 28, 2025, at 9:10 a.m. in the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Chambers on St. Thomas to receive testimony from the Virgin Islands Housing Authority, the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority, and the Non-Profit Housing Assistance Programs: Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands, Meeting the Needs of the Community, Inc. and VI Continuum of Care. Discussion topics included: • Overview on the overall operational, fiscal, and human resources status of the Virgin Islands Housing Authority. • The outlook for the supply and demand for affordable housing in the territory. • The status of the Housing Choice Voucher Program. • The status of the Emergency Housing Vouchers. • The status of public housing, renovations, and senior housing. • The status of resident empowerment programs. • Discussion on the current status of homeownership programs across the territory and the outlook for affordable housing and homeownership. • The progress of home repair programs, the status of emergency housing initiatives managed by the VI Housing Finance Authority, and the status of programs aimed at addressing housing instability. • Testimony from non-profits entities will address housing instability, the health of organizations supporting affected individuals, collaboration with government agencies, and suggestions for improvement. • The session also included a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats) analysis of the housing landscape and efforts to provide solutions. 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 April 7, 2025 Phone (340) 693-3567 Fax (340) 693-3636 Courriel SenatorBlyden@Gmail.com ~ YOUR CHOICE FOR SOLUTIONS ~ Legislative Attendance Committee Members Present Non-Committee Members Present Senator Marvin A. Blyden, Chair Senator Angel L. Bolques, Jr. Senator Clifford A. Joseph, Sr. Senator Novelle E. Francis Senator Ray Fonseca Senator Avery L. Lewis Senator Dwayne M. DeGraff Senator Alma Francis-Heyliger Senator Marise C. James Senator Carla Joseph Senator Kurt A. Vialet (Absent-Excused) Invited Testifiers Dwayne Alexander, Executive Director, Virgin Islands Housing Authority Dr. Suzanne Darrow-Magras, Board Secretary, Virgin Islands Continuum of Care Eugene Jones, Executive Director, Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority Andrea Shillingford, Executive Director, Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands Dan Derima, Executive Director, Meeting the Needs of the Community The Committee on Housing, Transportation & Telecommunications adjourned at 4:21 p.m. Prepared by: _______________________________ Vanessa Ortiz Williams Chief Legislative Researcher