ST. CROIX — The Office of Disaster Recovery held an information session today in the conference room at the Elections System of the Virgin Islands on St. Croix for residents who applied to receive free repairs under the EnVIsion Tomorrow Homeowner Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program, following damages sustained nearly eight years ago when Hurricanes Irma and Maria pummeled the territory in September 2017.
Although the program got off to a slow start under the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority, it has gained momentum since being transferred to ODR in November 2023 to manage the program. As the grantee of the federal funds, VIHFA continues to provide program oversight.
In October 2023, VIHFA officials updated senators on the EnVIsion Tomorrow program, reporting that about 675 damage assessments had been conducted within the first three years, resulting in the completion of 27 homes. At the time, 407 homes were in various stages of the design-to-rehabilitation process.
The program now continues to move forward with renewed purpose, transforming lives one home at a time by accelerating progress and improving service delivery.
Federally funded through the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery program, EnVIsion Tomorrow contractors have now completed 65 homes, with another nine to 10 slated to close out by the end of the month, according to Tishawn Christian-Noorhassan, program manager. She said another 105 homes are currently under construction.
“We might have had a little bit of bumps in the road, but I think we figured it out,” she said. “And with that figuring out, we’re able to move a little bit faster and put more homes into construction, as we’ve been doing over the past couple months.”
As ODR gears up to begin construction on more homes, Christian-Noorhassan said the agency is also completing projects.
“Some people complain and say that the process takes a while, but we want to make sure that your home is safe by the time we put you back in, and it’s a home that is resilient and can last you,” she said.
As applicants move through the six-phase process — including application review, environmental assessments, grant signing, contractor selection, pre-construction meetings, and active construction oversight — ODR specifically invited 43 homeowners who are at the beginning of the process to attend one of two information sessions starting today and concluding tomorrow. About half were scheduled to attend each day, with others participating virtually. A makeup session is also scheduled for anyone unable to attend the first two.
“We sent out letters to each applicant tailored to what they would require to continue moving them on to the next construction phase,” Christian-Noorhassan said.
She added that annual recertification — including updated income documents and proof of current property tax payments — is a requirement from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
“A lot of the applicants get frustrated when we call them for information over and over, but it’s an annual thing that is a requirement from HUD that each applicant is recertified annually and make sure that their documents are current,” she said.
Christian-Noorhassan emphasized that ODR is working to ensure low-to-moderate income applicants remain eligible under HUD’s LMI standards. Although the focus is currently on LMI households, she said that average-moderate income applicants will also receive assistance in due time.
Adrienne Williams-Octalien, ODR director, said the intent of the information session was to inform the remaining applicants on St. Croix about the next steps required to put their homes out for bid. She said ODR has already contacted the remaining applicants in the first phase who live in the St. Thomas/St. John District.
“We wanted to make sure we ascertain if applicants in the first phase were still interested and let them know what they need to do so we can expedite the repairs to their homes,” Williams-Octalien said.
During the session, applicants received answers to pressing questions — from previous inspections and damage reassessments to homeowner responsibilities and program policies.
In response to a question about whether earlier inspections remain valid, Gregory Miller, senior program manager, said that homes were initially assessed in 2022, but an engineering firm was later hired to reassess them due to ongoing wear and tear.
“During construction, if we do notice any damages that weren’t captured in the initial cost, we do work with the contractor to add it to the scope of work to be completed — once it’s eligible,” Miller said.
For homeowners who made repairs themselves, Miller said federal rules prohibit reimbursement due to HUD’s duplication of benefits policy, which ensures applicants do not receive overlapping aid from different sources like insurance.
Applicants also learned that they can view their entire scope of work — including materials, repairs, and timelines — during a preconstruction meeting. Miller clarified that scopes are not finalized until a notice to proceed is issued and may be revised even during construction.
When asked if the program applicants have to pay anything to receive the repairs, Miller said everything is free. He said the scope of work could include new roofs, or new homes if necessary.
“We do complete reconstruction; some homes were taken from the foundation straight up,” he said. “So, if for whatever reason, maybe let’s say your foundation does not support the new roof, then we would probably have to demolish your whole home and build you from the ground up.”
In exchange for the free repairs, applicants must continue living in their homes for at least three years after construction without selling, and while staying current on paying their property taxes. Failure to meet those conditions could require repayment of the grant funds.
Applicants also learned that while keeping property taxes current is a requirement, having outstanding taxes does not automatically disqualify them because the program works closely with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, which offers payment plans.
Brent Leerdam, tax collector in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, joined virtually to explain the process for making tax payments and managing delinquencies. He also demonstrated how to use the website propertytax.vi.gov for online payments.
Christian-Noorhassan stressed that the EnVIsion Tomorrow program is active and making real progress.
“We’re coming,” she said. “Don’t give hope up.”
Applicants who have questions about their documents or application status can contact the EnVIsion Tomorrow program by calling 1-866-520-1310, or by sending an email to envisioninfo@usvipfa.com.
