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76 77 THE VIRGIN ISLANDS HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY UNLOCKINGTHE DOOR THE VIRGIN ISLANDS HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY T hepromotional taglineof theVirgin IslandsHousingFinanceAuthority(VIHFA) says it all:“Unlockingthedoor toafford- ablehousing.”Formed in1981,theVIHFA servesasaone-stopshopfor safe,decent,affordable housingfor theU.S.territory’s low-to-moderate in- come residents,addressingwhathadbeenashort- ageofhomesandapartments thatmet that criteria. “Itwas startedtoassist lowandmoderate income people intheVirgin Islands tobecomehomeowners,” saysDarylGriffith,theagency’sActingExecutiveDi- rector andCFO.“It’sbasicallyacomponentunit,but an independent instrumentof thegovernment,meaning that ithas itsownBoardofDirectors.” VIHFAandtheVirgin IslandsHousingAuthorityare sister agencies.“TheHousingAuthoritydealsmainly inrentals for low-income individuals,sotheydeal withSection8vouchersandthingsof thatnature,” Griffithexplains.“Wealsodosome rentals,butour mainpurpose is totryandmakeVirgin Islanders homeowners,inthe low-to-moderate incomesphere.” Theagency’sdefinitionof low-to-moderate income -fromthemid-$20,000supto$175,000 ($150,000 forSt.Croix)-mightbeaneyebrowraiser for residents of theU.S.mainland,butGriffithsays that range reflectshowexpensivehomesareonthe islands. AT A GLANCE THE VIRGIN ISLANDS HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY WHAT: Provides financial assistance to low and moderate income residents WHERE: St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands WEBSITE: www.vihfa.gov