Karen Dickenson and one of the homeless individuals served by The Collective Collaboration stand outside the organization’s former base of operations.
On August 8, 2022, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. signed into law a bill passed by the 34th Legislature to appropriate funds for the refurbishment of a building on Company Street. That building was meant to become the permanent home of The Collective Collaboration Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to serving the island’s homeless. Nearly three years later, that promise remains unfulfilled—and today, August 6, 2025, the organization has been ordered to vacate the property it has used in the meantime.
With no government-provided facility in place, and no alternative location funded or approved, The Collective Collaboration now finds itself without a home, despite its mission to serve those who are unhoused.
The property in question is owned by St. John's Episcopal Church, which launched eviction proceedings against the nonprofit in 2022, citing violations of the original agreement—including allowing homeless individuals to sleep on the premises. Founder Karen Dickenson argued that the building had long been used by the homeless as shelter, well before her organization began preparing meals and providing basic services at the site.
The court initially ruled in favor of the church, and Collective Collaboration appealed. That appeal was dismissed in June by Superior Court Judge Denise Francois, who found no error in the magistrate court’s earlier decision. On Monday, the group was given two days to vacate the premises.
Even as the deadline arrived, Ms. Dickenson acknowledged that the organization was not ready to move. “We're asking that you give us some time…so that we can pack up and do what we have to do,” she said. Belongings and supplies—including food intended to serve dozens of people—remain inside.
During a protest on Tuesday, Ms. Dickenson expressed frustration over repeated efforts to secure government assistance that never materialized. “We've tried so much to get out of this space,” she said. “All we get is pushback. Two leases with the government [have] never been signed, purchase of a building – monies have never been funded, and the list goes on.”
She added that the church was never supposed to be a permanent location. But without movement on the government’s promised support, the temporary solution had become the only option.
Despite the eviction, The Collective Collaboration remains committed to its mission. “When I came home, they were on the streets and everybody ignored them,” Ms. Dickenson said, referring to St. Croix’s homeless population.
“Thursday, I could be on a plane and out of here, because I have places to go…but that's not what I came back for. I came back to help my people,” she said.
As the group prepares to leave the church property, it is also calling on the public for help. A GoFundMe campaign launched Tuesday has raised $400 of its $24,000 goal. Ms. Dickenson has vowed to press forward: “You can't stop me,” she declared. “You can't stop me.”
Whether the church will grant more time remains uncertain, but as of today, The Collective Collaboration has lost the place it called home—while the building promised by law in 2022 remains out of reach.
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