Crisis: Former Inmates, Now Homeless, Threaten to Reoffend to Seek Housing in Prison

The struggle for affordable housing in the Virgin Islands has reached a crisis point for one of the most vulnerable populations: former inmates.

Marilyn Joy Carson, a transitional case manager in the Bureau of Corrections, recently conveyed the grim reality facing these individuals. Speaking at a tri-island town hall meeting, she expressed the urgency and desperation, citing the case of a former inmate now sleeping in a cemetery in Frederiksted. Ms. Carson and other advocates point to systemic failures and policies that perpetuate a cycle of homelessness and re-offense among former inmates, underscoring the need for immediate and comprehensive solutions.

During the meeting, Ms. Carson provided valuable insights into the challenges the Bureau of Corrections faces in securing affordable housing for former inmates. Alarmingly, she mentioned that some individuals have threatened to re-offend as a last resort to secure a place to live — even if that place is behind bars. She also revealed her frustrations with the Virgin Islands Housing Authority (VIHA), noting her unsuccessful attempts to utilize housing vouchers meant to alleviate this crisis. Clearly, bureaucratic inefficiencies and lack of communication compound the already daunting challenges of finding stable housing for this vulnerable group.

Joining her was Dr. Suzanne Darrow-Magras, the director of the University of the Virgin Islands Center for Excellence in Learning and Leadership (UVI CELL). Dr. Darrow-Magras expanded on the hurdles faced by former inmates who, despite undergoing programs intended to prepare them for re-entry into society, find themselves struggling against an unyielding system. VIHA's policies often disqualify these individuals from public housing and housing vouchers due to their criminal records, leaving them effectively homeless and at a high risk of re-offending.