Home News Local news V.I. Housing Authority Board Focuses on Local Efforts

V.I. Housing Authority Board Focuses on Local Efforts

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A little more than a decade after being taken over by the feds, the V.I. Housing Authority’s executive director was able to deliver Wednesday his first report to an all-local board, which was put in place after the agency was transferred back last month to the territory’s government.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development took over the V.I. Housing Authority on Aug. 20, 2003, administratively and physically, with a designated receiver and a team of experts in everything from procurement to building rehabilitation on St. Thomas and St. Croix.

At the end of May 2014, the agency was transferred back, after efforts over the last few years have shown clear strides made by the agency, including organizational changes, the implementation of asset management efficiencies that have resulted in cost changes, and efforts to rehab several housing communities.

Those rehab efforts, particularly in the area of crime prevention, were detailed during Wednesday’s board meeting by VIHA Executive Director Robert Graham, who said the agency was looking to integrate the V.I. Police Department’s cadets into two housing communities: Paul M. Pearson Gardens on St. Thomas and William’s Delight on St. Croix.

The Police Department already has an memorandum of agreement with VIHA for constant monitoring and outreach efforts and Graham said Wednesday that the cadets would also help get more of the communities’ youth involved in positive activities.

Specifically Graham said the cadets would be involved in helping to establish neighborhood watch programs, assist in organizing more recreational events within the communities, and helping residents train for preparing and responding to emergencies, such as natural disasters. That training would be conducted in conjunction with the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency, Graham said.

VIHA is currently working with Property and Procurement on leases for space within the housing communities for the cadets.

Graham also said that the Housing Authority has been invited to the Senate in September to present its budget for the next fiscal year. While the agency has no problem with telling the community how much it has to work with, Graham said the invitation is a “mixed blessing,” as it will highlight the need for a more dedicated funding source to cover efforts on the ground in the territory.

Legislation was approved in the past for a Housing Trust Fund, but no money has been put in for decades and there is a need for the local government to contribute, Graham said.

Specifically there is a need for senior housing facilities, he added.

“We have to have new developments to accommodate this population, which is anticipated to grow over the next five to 10 years,” Graham said. “Right now there is a need for more housing, and we need to be ahead of the curve in the future. It is not going to magically appear; we do have to plan.”

Board member Chris Finch added Wednesday that applications for federal funding needed to subsidize senior housing efforts look better if there is a local match.

“This is where the discussion of local money comes into play,” Finch said. “Part of the challenge is that you are competing with other areas for the same money so it becomes how good is your application and what is included, and if you need 100 percent of the money for everything to come from HUD you don’t look as good as somebody else that is putting in their own money in with it.”

Wrapping up his report Wednesday, Graham updated the board on plans to demolish buildings on the site of the former Ralph de Chabert housing community on St. Croix, which was approved by the board last June. Graham said federal funding has been awarded by HUD for the project, and he expects to soon bring the board two resolutions for approval: one for architectural and engineering services that would help prepare the site for demolition, and a second for the actual demolition.

The HUD funding must be obligated within one year and completely spent within two years, and Graham said that he expects the authority will at least meet both deadlines.

Graham added that the site could be the heart of a complete revitalization for Christiansted and explained that efforts are ongoing through the Economic Development Authority for the development of a town plan. The Housing Authority could join in those efforts and work with local agencies to prepare a competitive grant application for more funding to help with the revitalization, Graham added.

In other news, the Housing Authority board also approved:
– a resolution ratifying and memorializing Luis Sylvester as chairman of the VIHA board and George Blackhall as vice-chairman;
– an agreement with Sugar Estates Associates, for 15 years, that would help provide direct assistance to seniors living in VIHA’s Sugar Estate senior housing development;
– and a resolution authorizing the write-off of $53,448 in outstanding rent owed by tenants on St. Thomas and St. Croix. The outstanding rent owed to the authority is from tenants that have not paid for 90 days or more and have either moved off-island or are still living on the properties; the authority generally writes off these debts for accounting and administrative purposes.

Board members attending Wednesday’s meeting were Daphne Edwards, Finch, Colette Jones, Sylvester and Adrienne Williams.

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