Housing Authority Commits to Improving Affordable Housing Amid Significant Challenges in Virgin Islands

The V.I. Housing Authority is facing a number of challenges, but the authority remains committed to providing affordable housing to low-income families in the Virgin Islands, testifiers told lawmakers Tuesday.

In her testimony before the Senate Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance, VIHA Chief Operating Officer Lydia Pelle noted that the budget picture for U.S. Housing and Urban Development was unclear, but said that the authority, which operates solely on federal funds, was optimistic that funding levels would be maintained.

She told lawmakers that the Biden Administration has proposed a modest increase in funding for HUD, including $7.6 billion for rehabilitating and redeveloping distressed public housing and $22 billion in housing vouchers for extremely low income veterans and youth aging out of foster care.

Locally, VIHA will receive approximately $59.5 million in HUD funding for FY 2023, which will be used to assist about 4,000 families with housing. There is another $10.8 million for the Capital Fund Grant, Ms. Pelle said, but those monies will not be used until the next fiscal year, which begins on January 1, 2024. Approximately $15 million will go towards the Housing Choice Voucher program, which the VIHA COO says will assist 700 landlords. The agency is also using funding from the voucher program to support six smaller but significant grants for Special Needs families.