USVI: Homeless population reaches crisis level
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CHARLOTTE AMALIE, St. Thomas, USVI- The U.S. Virgin Islands is facing a deepening homelessness crisis, with emergency shelters at capacity, waitlists closed, and critical housing shortages affecting some of the territory’s most vulnerable residents. As the number of unsheltered individuals continues to grow, lawmakers and service providers are sounding the alarm over limited resources, rising demand—particularly among women with children—and the urgent need for a coordinated, territory-wide
The number of homeless Virgin Islanders has risen to 304, members of the Senate Committee on Housing, Transportation, and Telecommunications heard on Friday, March 28, 2025.
That information, taken from a January 24 Point in Time count, was shared by Mr Dan Derima, Chair of the Continuum of Care on Homelessness.
According to Mr Derima the number of unsheltered individuals comprises “185 persons in St. Thomas, 98 persons on St. Croix, and 21 on St. John.”
The true number of people experiencing homelessness, he added, is likely much higher as the count “does not account for individuals who are couch surfing or temporarily staying with others.”
He then declared, “The territory faces critical challenges in addressing homelessness.”
Hidden homelessness a problem
Andrea Shillingford, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands, which manages the Bethlehem House on St. Thomas, said hidden homelessness is the charity’s biggest problem.
It includes couch surfers, the elderly in emergency shelters, and hospital boarders.
With the home at capacity, Catholic Charities now has to turn people away, she added.
No emergency housing units available on St Thomas
On the part of the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority, lawmakers learned during Friday’s meeting that “currently on St. Thomas, our waiting list is closed because we do not have any emergency housing units available at the time,” according to Nicole Johnson, VIHFA's Director of Facilities and Property Management.
The list has been closed for “over two years,” Ms. Johnson said. On St. Croix, she disclosed, some emergency housing units have been identified for rehabilitation.
Homelessness in the territory seems to be nearing a crisis level. Meanwhile, agencies are struggling to catch up.
“Governor Albert Bryan has instructed us to get all together and start strategizing about the homeless issue,” shared Eugene Jones, VIHFA’s executive director.
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