Gov’t allocates $315m to help vulnerable with home repairs
Published:Monday | February 3, 2025 | 4:52 PM
The Government is allocating $315 million to repair vulnerable households affected by unusual weather patterns between July and December last year, with each constituency receiving $5 million.
Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness announced this during a statement to the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
He explained that while the amount allocated to each beneficiary is at the discretion of members of parliament (MPs), grants should range from $70,000 to $100,000 to improve roofs, windows, and sideboarding, making homes more resilient to future heavy rainfall, tropical depressions, or hurricanes. However, those who already received Hurricane beryl relief grants will not be eligible, and checks will be made to avoid duplication across programmes.
Holness emphasised the importance of MPs working closely with constituents to identify the most vulnerable households, particularly those unable to afford repairs. He also acknowledged a past issue where MPs had difficulty identifying registered hardware stores in their constituencies, which resulted in high transportation costs and delays. To address this, the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation has mapped every registered hardware and haberdashery on the island. This will help MPs easily locate nearby stores to source materials locally, reducing transportation costs and improving programme efficiency.
Additionally, staff from the Constituency Development Fund, Urban Renewal Programme, and other ministry units will assist with the assessment process. Holness called for the support of the House to ensure the programme’s success.
Despite distributing over 14,000 Beryl recovery grants, many households are still struggling with damage, particularly from leaky roofs, he added.