Barges, Hotels and Man Camps Among Options as USVI Seeks Housing for 5,500 Recovery Workers by 2028

With disaster recovery construction across the Virgin Islands accelerating toward an expected peak in August 2028, officials say one of the territory’s biggest obstacles may not be the projects themselves, but where to house the thousands of workers needed to complete them. During Friday’s meeting of the Committee on Disaster Recovery, Infrastructure, and Planning, Office of Disaster Recovery Director Adrienne Williams-Octalien said the territory will need about 5,500 additional skilled workers at peak construction, while lawmakers and contractors explored a range of housing options — from temporary worker compounds and barges, to vacant hotels, shuttered schools, and other government-owned properties. According to Ms. Williams-Octalien, disaster recovery projects are gradually moving into a more intense phase, with construction expected to reach its high point in August 2028. By that time, she said, the territory will need approximately 5,500 more skilled workers to maintain cons...