BVI must confront homelessness crisis, Vanterpool urges

Mark Vanterpool, head of the People's Leadership Movement, has criticised the British Virgin Islands for neglecting its homelessness problem, pointing to multiple cases of residents without stable housing despite a $550 million territorial budget.

During an appearance on his party's podcast, Vanterpool recounted being informed of two individuals occupying a parked car and later learning of young people seeking assistance for someone residing in a truck situated on family property in Long Trench. "We are hiding our heads in the sand. How can we address the homelessness in the British Virgin Islands? You know, it bothers me," he said.

Vanterpool insisted that inaction was not an option. "They must address it. You cannot hide from it," he told podcast listeners, while conceding that neither political leaders nor government officials possessed complete solutions.

The opposition figure pushed for a coordinated community effort, calling on political parties, service organisations like Rotary and private citizens to create support programmes. He pledged that a PLM administration would establish a dedicated unit to assist residents experiencing hardship.

Acknowledging the constraints faced by social development workers, Vanterpool nonetheless demanded increased investment and staffing. He also questioned whether the social development minister believed current assistance levels were adequate for vulnerable populations.

The issue has surfaced periodically. In January 2020, then-Education Minister Dr Natalio Wheatley flagged homelessness within his electoral area, with proposals to develop a housing estate as a potential remedy. Four years later, in January 2024, authorities removed a homeless individual from a ticket booth at Road Town's festival grounds, prompting community members to provide meals, temporary shelter and other support.