VI Housing Authority Reports Operational Gains as Leadership Outlines Ongoing Challenges

The V.I. Housing Authority, while still grappling with significant operational challenges, is making steady progress when it comes to improvement, according to Executive Director Dwayne Alexander.  Currently, the agency is actively working to address systemic inefficiencies. "We are in trouble status," Alexander noted, referencing the housing authority's current classification by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. However, recent strides by VIHA have raised inspection scores from an average of 59 to 70, Mr. Alexander said. Despite the positive movement, the VIHA executive director is determined to see scores rise even higher. "We need to be able to place the housing authority in a comfortable position of 75% or higher," he told board members. Rent collection remains a critical concern for the authority, with current rates hovering around 87% in St. Thomas and 90% in St. Croix. This is significantly below the industry standard of 95-98%, Mr. Alexander noted. “That's a ta...