KINGSTON, Jamaica — The National Housing Trust (NHT) has clarified its Hurricane Melissa relief protocols, confirming that mortgagors outside the most severely impacted zones remain eligible for financial assistance through active application processes. Unlike residents in hardest-hit parishes who received automatic six-month payment suspensions (November 2025 to April 2026), those in moderately affected regions must formally request support.
Shara Luke Cooper, Administrative Manager of the Customer Relations Management Division, emphasized the inclusive nature of the program. “The moratorium isn’t exclusively for property damage cases. Financial hardships stemming from unemployment or providing support to affected families also qualify for consideration,” she stated in an interview with JIS News.
Eligible residents across St. Catherine, Portland, St. Thomas, Clarendon, St. Mary, Kingston, and St. Andrew are urged to submit Special Assistance Forms accompanied by relevant documentation. These forms are accessible digitally via the NHT’s official portal (https://www.nht.gov.jm) or physically at any branch office.
This initiative represents a strategic component of the NHT’s comprehensive disaster response framework, designed to address both physical property damage and economic instability caused by Hurricane Melissa. The program extends beyond current mortgagors to include contributors, former mortgagors, and pensioners, reflecting the institution’s commitment to nationwide recovery through multifaceted support mechanisms.