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HomeNewsArchivesFYI: Sen. Hill Meets with Federal Housing Officials

FYI: Sen. Hill Meets with Federal Housing Officials

The following material is being published, unedited, exactly as it was received via e-mail from the office of the government official named below, as a Source community service. Government office holders wishing to contribute to the bulletin board must e-mail source@viaccess.net. The Source reserves the right to choose what is published.
Feb. 15, 2007 – On Friday in Washington, D.C., Senator Louis Patrick Hill, accompanied by Clifford Graham, Executive Director of the VI Housing Finance Authority, met with Assistant Secretary for U.S. Housing and Urban Development, Orlando Cabrera, in Washington, to discuss the utilization of lands under the jurisdiction of the federal government by Virgin Islanders who are suffering a severe housing shortage.
In a two-hour meeting, Senator Hill outlined to HUD officials his long-researched proposal to sell to the VI Government the now vacant, former public housing properties at Warren E. Brown, Estate Donoe, and Estate Hoffman/Nullyberg.
In arguing for the purchase, Hill contended that the VI government with federal assistance would put the vacant lands to good use, providing homeownership and rental opportunities to Virgin Islanders who are in dire need of housing.
Intriqued with Senator Hill‘s proposal, HUD officials requested the submission of a business plan incorporating HUD, the VI Housing Finance Authority, and the VI Government which would provide for the construction of housing that would make available rental units and also provide a homeownership component.
Senator Hill requested a visit by U.S. Housing Secretary Alfonso Jackson to the Territory to meet with the pertinent government and private sector entities and to view the properties in question. Said Senator Hill, “I feel that a first-hand look is absolutely essential. Both Secretary Jackson and Assistant Secretary Cabrera have indicated their interests in an official visit to the territory to explore this and other initiatives. I will coordinate their visit with Senator Celestino White, our Chairman of the Legislature’s Committee on Housing, Sports, and Veterans Affairs.”

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