The CDBG-DR program is a federal initiative designed to provide flexible grants to help cities, counties, and states recover from presidentially declared disasters, especially in low-income areas, and is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These grants support a broad range of recovery activities, including housing rehabilitation, infrastructure repair, and economic revitalization, with the aim to address unmet needs and mitigate future risks, ensuring resilient recovery and long-term sustainability for affected communities.  

Hurricanes Irma and Maria had devastating impact on the United States Virgin Islands. The two back-to-back Category 5 storms in September 2017 caused significant destruction to housing, infrastructure, and the economy. HUD’s Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding provides for unmet needs after Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds, insurance, and other federal or private sources are accounted for, with a focus on the needs of low-and moderate-income residents. 

Grant, funding, is managed by the U.S. Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority (VIHFA), Grantee, and spending is prioritized in Programs designed through the U.S Virgin Islands CDBG-DR Action Plan. This plan proposes a portfolio of Programs to address unmet housing, public service, infrastructure, and economic needs. Territorially, the Programs are Housing, Infrastructure, Economic Revitalization, Public Services & Supportive Needs Housing (Facilities).