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Sept. 6, 2007 – Senator Louis Patrick Hill has written Senator Celestino White, the Chairman of the Committee on Housing, Sports, and Veterans Affairs, to request that Bill 27-0111, which transfers the functions of the Department of Housing, Parks, and Recreation to the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority, be added to the agenda for the upcoming meeting scheduled for September 14.
In making his request, Senator Hill stated, "It is my firm belief that the V.I. Housing Finance Authority will best address the housing, homeless, and community development needs of our territory in a more comprehensive and holistic fashion and that was my motivation for sponsoring this legislation. It is critical that we proceed without hesitation, as a swift transition will prevent interruption of ongoing long-range housing development plans."
Senator Hill went on to say that he anticipates full participation from Governor de Jongh when the bill goes through committee as the Governor expressed his continuing commitment in his May 23 letter to the Senate President. "The Governor's willingness to meet with Assistant Secretary Orlando Cabrera from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development during his recent visit to the territory reinforced the Governor's genuine desire for a non-partisan approach by both the Legislative and Executive branches of government to address the acute and mounting housing shortages on all three islands," said Hill.
In conclusion, Senator Hill stated since all the pieces of the puzzle are in place, now is the time to pull them together and bring relief to those who are suffering from the lack of affordable housing.
