KINGSTON, Jamaica—Jamaica’s National Housing Trust (NHT) has distributed approximately JMD $409 million in emergency relief grants to citizens affected by Hurricane Melissa, according to official disclosures. The Category 5 hurricane, which inflicted severe damage across western Jamaica, prompted the government-sponsored housing agency to activate its special disaster recovery program.
Shara Luke Cooper, Administrative Manager of NHT’s Customer Relations Management Division, revealed during a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank session that the disbursements represent 1,049 approved applications from a total of 3,898 submissions received through January 27. The emergency grant facility provides up to JMD $500,000 per qualified applicant to assist with recovery efforts.
Eligibility extends to current and former NHT contributors along with pensioners who sustained property damage during the devastating storm. Cooper emphasized that actual payout amounts vary based on individualized damage assessments rather than automatic maximum allocations. ‘Payouts are subject to assessment, and applicants will receive what is required to assist them in the recovery process,’ she clarified.
The trust has observed steadily increasing application rates as normalcy gradually returns to the most impacted parishes of St. Elizabeth, Hanover, Trelawny and Westmoreland. Officials note that many residents are now able to better document their losses and complete application requirements.
Cooper issued important clarifications regarding application procedures, stressing that the NHT grant process remains entirely separate from peril insurance claims. ‘Even though the supporting documents or evidence are similar, these are two separate applications,’ she explained during the Think Tank presentation. Applicants must submit complete documentation packages including proof of property ownership, photographic evidence of storm damage, and current contributor status information.
The administrative manager urged applicants to ensure information accuracy and form completeness to facilitate efficient processing. ‘We are encouraging applicants to ensure that the information provided is accurate and that the application form is complete,’ Cooper added, noting that incomplete submissions significantly delay assistance delivery.