THE UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS



OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

GOVERNMENT HOUSE



Charlotte Amalie, V.I. 00802

340-774-0001



VIRGIN ISLANDS HOUSING MONTH



kkeKRRAK KEK



BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS OF THE UNITED STATES



REAR RAEEE



A PROCLAMATION



Safe, decent, and sanitary housing is important to the United States Virgin Islands and its

citizens.



Owning a home is a major aspiration of Virgin Islanders and a testimony of personal

identity, and a fundamental unit of the community. Adequate housing is key, not only to the

welfare of individual families, but to the overall economic development of the Territory.



A healthy housing industry provides families with affordable housing opportunities, and

the chance to build equity, strengthen the tax base, create jobs, and open doors for further growth

and development.



The Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority and the Virgin Islands Housing Authority

has provided eligible applicants with diverse housing opportunities through their many and

varied programs.



On October 20, 1981, the Legislature of the Virgin Islands and the Virgin Islands

Government by Act No. 4636, created the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority for the

express purpose of operating the Affordable Housing Program for low and moderate income

residents in the Territory.



The Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority commenced operation in 1984. In 2007,

the Legislature of the Virgin Islands and the Government by Act No. 6973 transferred the

housing functions of the Department of Housing, Parks and Recreation to the Virgin Islands

Housing Finance Authority.

Proclamation — Virgin Islands Housing Month 2017

Page 2



For over thirty-three years, many Virgin Islanders have achieved the housing dream

through low interest mortgage loans, major rehabilitation and revitalization projects, increased

availability of affordable housing and the joint efforts of the Government and the private

industry. It is in the public best interest and essential to the public health and welfare to continue

to encourage homeownership and provide decent, safe and sanitary housing for persons of low-

and moderate-income.



NOW, THEREFORE, I, Osbert E. Potter, Acting Governor of the Virgin Islands of the

United States, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Revised Organic Act of 1954, as

amended, do hereby proclaim the month of June, 2017, as Housing Month in the Virgin Islands. |

urge all residents to join with me in supporting agencies of the Federal and Virgin Islands

Governments, and their efforts to provide safe, decent, sanitary and affordable housing for the

people of the Territory.



IN WITNESS WHEREOF, | have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the

Government of the Virgin Islands of the United States to be affixed at Charlotte Amalie, St.

Thomas, Virgin Islands, this_14 day of June 2017.



Osbert E. Potter

Acting Governor



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Senator Nereida Rivera *Reilly



32™4 Legislature

Acting Lieutenant Goverhor