Jamaica Government Announces $400K Housing Grants for Hurricane Beryl Recovery

The Government of Jamaica, through the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, is to launch a $400,000 housing grant programme to benefit families whose homes were completely destroyed or damaged as a result of Hurricane Beryl.

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Pearnel Charles Jr made the announcement during a statement in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

Minister Charles Jr stated that families whose homes suffered complete destruction will be given a housing grant of $400,000. Families are eligible for up to $150,000 in the case of severe damage and will receive $50,000 if they have minor damage.

“The reality is that we recognize the immediacy of the situation with regard to these various grant payments via cheques and, of course, we are looking at some expedited means by which this can be done through electronic payments and cash cards to make sure that we streamline the process, expedite matters and improve service delivery,” he states. He says restoration is a collaborative effort.

“We have to address this restoration process as a partnership of all stakeholders, so it is envisioned that these grants will be supplemented by a range of other initiatives, including donor funds, contributions from the Diaspora, private sector initiatives such as the recently launched National Commercial Bank Foundation’s, ‘Building a Better Jamaica Fund’, the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), and Food for the Poor,” Chares Jr said.

So far, Food for the Poor has replaced some 20 roofs in Clarendon, which was one of the hardest-hit parishes, and later this week is to extend similar efforts to St Elizabeth.

Of the island wide damage assessments conducted so far, it is forecasted that some 8,700 households will need government support to help them recover and rebuild. “Of this amount, the vast majority would have suffered minor damage,” Charles Jr noted.

The Ministry will also be granting $100,000 to 500 micro business operators who went destitute as a result of the hurricane, for a total of $50 million. The Social Intervention Programme will also offer $30 million to 200 tertiary-level students from severely affected households, with each student receiving $150,000.

These initiatives represent a comprehensive effort on the part of the government to help in recovery and rebuild the lives of those affected by Hurricane Beryl.