BFJ Planning and Urbanomics reviewed the housing conditions and future housing needs in St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas, on behalf of the U.S. Virgin Islands Housing and Finance Authority (HFA). As part of this study, the project team evaluated the local economy of the Virgin Islands, updated demographic characteristics, and identified deficiencies in the existing housing stock, such as overcrowding and affordability issues. In order to assess the residential real estate market, the team identified housing market trends and gathered building permit data. 

The project team predicted future housing needs based on the projected increase in the number of households, and also compared projections to the current rate at which housing was being built to determine if housing supply was keeping pace with market demand. Based on these findings, the team assessed the feasibility of several housing developments proposed by the HFA for the U.S. Virgin Islands. Mapping was done with “Mapbasics,” a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software program, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) Community 2020 software package.