Interagency Council on Homelessness holds inaugural meeting at Government House

The Virgin Islands Interagency Council on Homelessness held its inaugural meeting at Government House on St. Thomas on April 22, 2025.

The council, established under Executive Order No. 444-2009 and housed within the Department of Human Services, is made up of 15 members appointed by the governor. It advises the governor and the Legislature on issues related to homelessness and the risk of becoming homeless.

According to Government House, representatives at the meeting included Catholic Charities, the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority, the Virgin Islands Police Department, the Department of Justice and the Continuum of Care program.

At the session, the council elected Human Services Commissioner Averil George as chair, Danny Derima of the Virgin Islands Continuum of Care as vice chair, and Sandra Thomas Mason of Catholic Charities as secretary.

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr., who is not a voting member of the council, attended the meeting and called for a 10-year strategic plan on homelessness, along with legislative support for housing and support services.

Government House said the council was scheduled to reconvene on St. Croix on June 18, 2025, and planned to hold town halls across the territory during the summer.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-attends-inaugural-meeting-of-interageny-council-on-homelessness-at-government-house/