Resilience and Accessibility for St. John Homes

The impacts of Hurricanes Irma and Maria are still acutely felt by families across St. John, who remain in unstable living conditions and homes that continue to deteriorate from exposure to tropical elements. With escalating costs of shipping and materials, there are limited options for those that struggle with leaking roofs, compromised accessibility, and mold.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the dedicated work of our staff and local partners, two senior residents of St. John that have been displaced since their home was destroyed in 2017 have recently moved back to the island. This project has been a true collaborative effort, and we are so pleased that this family is back home safe.

In our small island community, every home repaired or rebuilt is extremely impactful on a personal level. We work with individuals to build back their homes to serve their specific accessibility needs, and ensure that all properties in this program are constructed to the highest safety standards.

The Atlantic Hurricane Season is underway, and every repair alleviates some stress felt throughout the community. Love City Strong is committed to supporting a prepared and responsive St. John, and a major component is housing security. Public private partnerships, our dedicated board members, and incredible donors have allowed these programs to thrive amid uncertain federal funding conditions. We thank you for your commitment to the resilience of our community.

As a grassroots organization that developed in response to a major disaster in a small, isolated community, Love City Strong is rooted in our ability to adapt to changing needs, and demonstrate flexibility when faced with challenges. Over the past 8 years we have encountered hazards of all shapes and sizes, including a global pandemic, widespread economic turndowns, and an increase in climate driven disasters across the world.

Along with the rest of the sector, we are currently navigating a shift in the funding landscape as we know it. With years of experience adapting our programs based on the needs of our clients and community, we are now working to reimagine our current and future initiatives to reflect new realities. Recognizing that we are in uncertain times, we remain committed to our mission and supporting safe and affordable housing on St. John.

Our Resilient Housing Initiative continues to repair low and middle income homes that were severely damaged or destroyed in 2017. In most cases, families have been living in these homes, despite their condition, since that time. In 2025 we have three projects prioritized, all of which are complete rebuilds. As the cost of construction has increased, our ability to complete these homes is threatened. The Resilient Housing Initiative is a program-of-last-resort, meaning that for these families, there are no other paths available to a safe, resilient, repaired home.

Environmental Justice and access to affordable housing are intrinsically linked. In order to effectively address housing costs and availability and increasingly frequent environmental stressors, it is crucial to recognize the populations most significantly impacted; low income and minority communities. Love City Strong serves a population that is increasingly exposed to environmental stressors, and continues to explore public private partnerships and intersectional approaches to housing issues on St. John.

There is a proven need for safe, secure, and sustainable housing for low income and disadvantaged residents on St. John, and we are committed to addressing this issue as funds become available. The more visibility we can attract to our small community, and strategic partnerships we can develop, the more residents we can serve. We are so grateful for the support of GlobalGiving and our donors for trusting and supporting us on our journey.