COMMITTEE HEARS HOUSING UPDATES
ST. THOMAS- Members of the Committee on Housing, Transportation, and Telecommunications, led by Senator Marvin A. Blyden, met at the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Chambers to discuss the status of Housing, Housing Opportunities, Home Ownership opportunities, the status of the First-time Homebuyers Program Act No. 8465, and plans for the future of Housing in the Virgin Islands.
2022-03-23 15:18:17 - VI News Staff
In block one, Lydia Pelle, the Chief Operating Officer of the Virgin Islands Housing Authority, who testified on behalf of Executive Director Robert Graham, gave testimony. In her testimony, Ms. Pelle stated that many initiatives were being undertaken to update and increase housing stock in the territory. She stated that before the hurricanes of 2017, it was determined that there was a housing shortage of approximately 5,000 units. Over 1/3 of public housing units in the territory are obsolete, vacant, and will be replaced. An unmet housing need of about 6,000 units currently exists in the territory. Ms. Pelle stated that the Housing Authority hopes to update the housing stock in the territory, hoping to deliver about 300 new units a year for the next 10 years. A housing voucher program in the VIHA has a budget of about $15 million that has 2,047 families. About 1490 families receive housing assistance, for a 73% utilization rate.
A major issue that exists in the territory is the lack of vacant units for lease. The VIHA reported that about 400 out of 1500 families in the Housing Voucher Program have requested rent changes due to loss of income. The Authority also reported that no public housing or leaseholders have been evicted for non-payment. There are 24 housing developments within VIHA, that are then grouped into 12 asset management properties. A total of 2,954 units are currently available. 4 communities are currently non-viable, The Estate Tutu Apartments, Ludvig Harrigan Court, JFK, and Williams Delight Villas. Several opportunities are being taken to improve the overall look of housing communities, especially when it comes to curb appeal, exterior lighting, and outdoor space. Senator Alma Francis Heyliger voiced some concern over the maintenance of the housing communities as well as the proposal to increase the housing stock.