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Housing Grant Deadline Extended
The Cayman Islands Government Housing Recovery Grant (HRG) programme has extended its deadline for applications for its “no-strings-attached” grant to eligible persons who need help in repairing their homes. This extension, to remain in effect until further notice, recognises the difficulties and delays applicants are experiencing in getting estimates for repairs and sourcing repair materials. “Since early November, we started receiving applications and so far we have in hand approximately 516 applications, with over 150 submitted over the past two days, right before the initial 30 November deadline,” comments Cayman Islands Development Bank (CIDB) Director Mrs. Angela Miller. The CIDB has approved 71 applications, and repairs for many are well underway, the Director said. “We hope to have the site inspections carried out as quickly as possible for those applications submitted just before the deadline. Once an application is complete and the site inspection carried out, the approval process will begin,” Mrs. Miller said. “We expect that the HRG will continue to assist many families in need over the next couple of weeks and our aim is to have as many homes repaired as possible before Christmas.” The first funds were distributed on 18 November, a 12-working-day turnaround rate since the programme’s 1 November launch that should encourage those whose applications are in process. For recipients, this funding represents a means of moving forward with rebuilding their homes and getting their lives back on a more even keel. According to grant recipient Jewel Rose Levy: “The HRG personnel were very efficient and I did not have to wait very long. I received my funds in two weeks and feel they are doing a tremendous job.” Commending the efforts of government to help identify and assist in the recovery endeavour, Mrs. Miller said: “We want to recognise the effort of the Leader of Government Business, the Honourable McKeeva Bush, who initiated the HRG. We also want to recognise the efforts of Ms Clyte Linwood the project coordinator, and the entire HRG committee for their long hours and commitment to the process of assisting Caymanians who are in dire need of repairs and/or restoration of their homes.” The CIDB is administering a $5.5 million pool of funds made available by the Cayman Islands Government to alleviate the housing situation for persons whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Ivan and had no insurance coverage. The grants do not require repayment to the CIDB. Commenting on their due diligence in ensuring that Government’s funds are protected from abuse, while at the same time securing applicants’ value for money, Director Miller said that the CIDB had adopted a standard rate for contractors’ work. “In the early days of the fund’s operation, the disparity in contractors’ estimates was a concern,” Mrs. Miller said. “We found that the best way to bring some consistency to the table was to adopt a standard rate sheet as a base for negotiating the best deal for applicants – and it is working well.” For more information, contact the CIDB at 949-7511 or visit them at Dr. Roy’s Drive in George Town. For Those Interested in Applying…
Criteria
An application is considered complete only when an estimate for repair or restoration is provided along with:
Turnaround TimeThere is a five-day response time for completed applications. Those applications received without the estimate cannot be processed until the necessary information is provided.
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