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USVI receives $12M aid funding to help citizens with rent

February 6th, 2021 | Tags: USVI rent COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus coronavirus
The U.S. Virgin Islands has received about $12 million from the COVID-19 aid bill passed by Congress in December 2020 to aid the territory's residents with rent payments, announced Senator Marvin Blyden, who chairs the 34th Legislature's Committee on Housing, Transportation & Telecommunications. Photo: Internet Souce
VI CONSORTIUM

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, St Thomas, USVI - The U.S. Virgin Islands has received about $12 million from the Covid-19 aid bill passed by Congress in December to aid the territory's residents with rent payments, announced Senator Marvin Blyden, who chairs the 34th Legislature's Committee on Housing, Transportation & Telecommunications.

The US Virgin Islands has received about $12 million from the Covid-19 aid bill passed by Congress in December to aid the territory's residents with rent payments, announced Senator Marvin Blyden, who chairs the 34th Legislature's Committee on Housing, Transportation & Telecommunications.

In a release issued Thursday, Mr Blyden called on Governor Albert Bryan to take swift action to implement a program of financial assistance to renters and mortgage payers in the territory who have fallen behind due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Mr Blyden said such a program “is absolutely necessary to avoid an unprecedented housing crisis in the territory."

"Under the latest round of COVID-19 relief enacted by Congress at the end of last year, nearly $12 million was allocated to the Virgin Islands for Emergency Rental Assistance," Mr Blyden said. "It is absolutely necessary that we get those monies in the hands of our residents.

While the moratoriums on evictions are certainly a lifesaver, they are not enough by themselves. Many people, through no fault of their own, are many months behind in their rental obligations, and they need assistance in order to remain in their residences and homes when the moratoriums end."

According to the release, the veteran lawmaker noted that providing the rental assistance immediately is not only critically important to tenants, but to their landlords as well.

"When we enable tenants to pay their rent, we also provide a lifeline to many homeowners, who depend on rental income to assist them in paying their mortgage and other obligations," Mr Blyden said.

"As such, it is simply impossible to overstate the importance of moving on this immediately. I have spoken to the governor before on this issue, and it is time now to get the ball rolling and to get this money to our people who need it so desperately. I have submitted draft legislation on this matter, but based on what I have learned, there is no legislative action necessary. What we need is creative and energetic action on the part of the administration, and I stand ready to lend whatever support is necessary to make this happen."

The senator noted that this matter will be a major subject of inquiry at the March 3, 2021 hearing of the Committee on Housing, Transportation and Telecommunications, and that he fervently hopes that more concrete developments will have occurred by then.

"The need is too great, and too urgent, to allow further delay," he concluded.

6 Responses to “USVI receives $12M aid funding to help citizens with rent”

  • gkefkkdakxq (06/02/2021, 18:29) Like (20) Dislike (1) Reply
    Sometimes its good to be an american
  • GG (06/02/2021, 19:21) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
    So when Tola going get something like this? Cause these landlords just killing now
  • racketeers (06/02/2021, 23:46) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    watch people getting lock up after this money is stolen and wasted
  • tretretrete (07/02/2021, 06:58) Like (2) Dislike (7) Reply
    Hundreds if not thousands of persons have gotten help with paying their rent, and other bills like electricity, water, mortgage, other bank loans, medical expenses, educational expenses through assistance from HOA Members Assistant Grant and COVID 19 Grant programs..
    Persons must apply and be approved. You can't just meet a rep on the street asking for money. Applications MUST BE FILLED OUT.. This is what transparency is about.
    Some of the same people that got help out there and on here saying they ain't get help or only certain people get help. NONSENSE. If you too proud to fill out a form because you don't want anyone to know you are suffering you wrong
    • wow (07/02/2021, 22:05) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      If you applied and made more than $1000.00 a month you didn’t qualify for any stimulus. They didn’t help me pay for anything and still aren’t and still taking Social NHI and tax out of my now half salary. Who did they help again?


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