Rebuilding St. Thomas, USVI

The primary focus of a Long-Term Recovery Group (LTRG) is rebuilding homes damaged or destroyed after a disaster, in order to ensure the safe return of homeowners to their homes. The St. Thomas Recovery Team is the LTRG of St. Thomas. As such, their primary mission is to identify home owners that would not be able to return to their homes because they lack the resources required to repair or rebuild.

In total, St. Thomas has 8,046 owner occupied households registered with FEMA for disaster related assistance. Of those FEMA registrations, there are 934 home owners that have been found FIT (failed income test) by SBA and do not meet the minimum qualifications to apply for disaster-SBA home repair loans. In addition, there are 2,165 homeowners who were denied loans after applying. This leaves St. Thomas with 3,099 homeowners that do not have access to resources traditionally provided via disaster-SBA loans in a declared disaster. There are still 3,799 SBA applications that are “in process” but we expect that due to the significant loss of employment, low income levels, and the age of applicants, there will be an additional portion of these homeowners that will not be able to access funding via disaster-SBA loans. 

STRT partner organization’s DCM staff started a “screening blitz” in March made up of 1200 owner occupied homes that were found FIT or denied SBA loans due to their inability to repay the loans. Survivors who agreed to participate in disaster case management and volunteer rebuild programs have been prioritized based in the order of the most damage with the lowest income and the least amount of additional resources. Our prioritization also includes the following: low income, elderly, disabled, single parent families, and homes with young children. We prioritize the most vulnerable populations who would not be able to recover otherwise. 

The Cruzan Rum Island Spirit Fund, through GlobalGiving was awarded to the St. Thomas Recovery Team in June, 2018.  Since, the STRT (in partnership with Disaster Recovery Support Initiative and the Salvation Army) has been able to seat its Unmet Needs Table and began to hear cases. So far, the three groups at the STRT Unmet Needs Table have heard several proposals for rebuild. The first three cases have been approved and have begun work. Soon three St. Thomian families will be able to return to their homes and return their lives to normalcy: 

1. First, we are assisting a 74 year old blind man with installing kitchen cabinets, windows and doors as well as helping to clean and paint the interior of his home. In this project, volunteers have assisted with demolition of walls, debris removal and disposal. 
2. Second, we are assisting an elderly woman remove green waste from her yard, which will allow her to get to her home and begin the rebuild.   
3. Third, we are also planning to rebuild the home of a 69 year old retired widow whose home was blown from its foundation and all of her personal possessions were destroyed.

With your help and the continued support of our GlobalGiving community, we know that we can reach our 100 home repair and more! We are committed to rehousing our vulnerable Virgin Islanders and improving their lives as they rebuild!

Links:

• Check out our website!