Beryl Housing Grants of Up to $400,000 to Start Flowing Within Four Weeks

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Households whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Beryl should start receiving government housing grants within the next four weeks, Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles Jr. has said.

The minister said the Government intends to begin disbursing relief within that period, drawing on the $1 billion it has set aside for recovery assistance after the storm struck on July 3.

Three tiers of support

The amount each household receives will depend on how badly its home was hit:

• up to $400,000 where a house was completely destroyed;
• up to $150,000 for severe damage; and
• up to $50,000 for minor damage.

According to the ministry, damage assessments were about 95 per cent complete as of July 22, with 8,397 homes evaluated. Of those, 453 were classified as destroyed, 3,221 as severely damaged and 4,723 as having minor damage. The assessments are being carried out using the Jamaica Household Disaster Impact and Needs Assessment Tool.

Private sector asked to coordinate

Mr Charles Jr. also appealed to businesses and other private groups that are helping storm victims to inform the relevant parish offices of what they are doing, so that recovery efforts can be coordinated and assistance reaches those who need it most without duplication.

The figures give a clearer picture of the scale of Beryl’s impact on the island’s housing stock. While most affected homes suffered minor damage, more than 3,600 properties were either severely damaged or lost entirely, the kind of destruction that typically takes months and significant sums to repair.

For affected homeowners, the grants are unlikely to cover the full cost of rebuilding, particularly for destroyed houses, so many will need to combine them with savings, insurance payouts or other support. Those who have not yet been assessed should contact their parish office promptly, as the assessment is the gateway to payment. Homeowners planning repairs would also be wise to build back with stronger roofing connections and hurricane straps, which can reduce losses in future storms and help protect the long-term value of the property. Landlords with damaged rental units should factor in repair timelines when discussing arrangements with tenants.