Lawmakers Press Housing Officials Over Soaring Construction Costs

Virgin Islands lawmakers pressed housing officials Wednesday during a legislative hearing that highlighted the territory’s deepening public housing crisis.

“We are a troubled housing authority,” said Virgin Islands Housing Authority Executive Director Dwayne Alexander, who told the Committee on Housing, Transportation and Telecommunications that the agency scored just 19 out of 40 points in recent federal assessments. The authority is grappling with more than $1 billion in deferred maintenance while receiving only $11.5 million in annual federal funding.

According to Alexander, the Virgin Islands Housing Authority manages 2,426 public housing units across 22 developments while supporting more than 1,300 families through housing assistance vouchers.

Officials gave updates to lawmakers on several critical housing projects that are advancing despite significant cost overruns and delays.