Prime Minister Andrew Holness says Cabinet has approved a special housing response programme valued at $330 million to assist with small housing repairs for those with ‘dire needs’.

Holness, while speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, November 21, stressed that the programme is not designed for the construction or rebuilding of new houses but geared towards small-scale housing assistance.

“Under this programme, J$5 million will be allocated to each constituency to assist with minor roof, windows, and siding repairs,” Holness explained on Thursday.

He said there will be an additional allocation of J$3 million to the three constituencies that have been worst impacted by the heavy rains.

They are East Rural St Andrew, and East and West St Thomas.

“Madam Speaker the idea behind this is to target those households that are vulnerable to weather particularly leaking roofs or compromised wooden structures to assist with the replacement of zinc sheets that are compromised windows or ply sidings that have been compromised. We are encouraging members of parliament to utilize these funds to assist as many households as possible targetting in the region of 100 households per constituency,”

PRIME MINISTER ANDREW HOLNESS

Holness is recommending that members of parliament target 100 persons, with each receiving a grant of J$50,000.

The programme will be administered through the Ministry of Housing to facilitate the necessary verification of persons who are in need of assistance.