Amalie Terrance Apartments Photo Credit: VI HOUSING AUTHORITY
Senator Donna Frett-Gregory on Tuesday issued a call for affordable housing management companies operating in the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with the Virgin Islands Housing Authority to consider rent deferment for tenants, noting that the coronavirus pandemic and the stay-at-home order issued by the local government has severely impacted the finances of residents.
"As stay-at-home orders extend through April 30, many experts project the damage to the Virgin Islands economy will extend far past any quarantine timeline," the release said. "Thousands of Virgin Islands residents, many of whom are hourly or service industry workers, will struggle to cover basic necessities in the coming months, including housing costs."
According to Ms. Frett-Gregory, mortgage companies, both abroad and locally, are providing mortgage holders with the opportunity to defer payments, and private landlords are exploring creative ways to provide relief to tenants. But it appears that residents of affordable housing communities are being overlooked. Ms. Frett-Gregory said affordable housing management entities have taken advantage of the federal tax credits to construct the territory’s affordable housing communities and have the flexibility to, in some way, relieve the financial burden from tenants through rent deferment. The senator believes implementing this will significantly benefit residents.
“It is no secret that lay off is on the rise. Just last week, the Commissioner of the Department of Labor reported that he has received over 1,000 unemployment applications. Many of our residents in these communities will be financially impacted by COVID-19 and giving consideration to this ask is important to sustainability,” she said. “We must also be reminded that many of these units suffered hurricane damages and are still under repair”.
"The Virgin Islands will continue to experience economic downturn from COVID-19 and residents, especially those who make their living in the tourism industry, will be significantly impacted," Ms. Frett-Gregory said. She urged these companies to take a look at what others are doing, both nationally and locally, to provide relief to tenants in the following communities:
