Funds Help Rebuild Cayman

The housing assistance funds have begun the work necessary to help people in our community rebuild and repair.

Government’s Housing Assistance Grants

One programme is the housing assistance grants provided by government and administered by the Cayman Islands Development Bank (CIDB). It has received almost 100 completed applications. Eligible persons can receive a maximum of CI$15,000 towards repairing their homes but many applications are not for the full amount.

“Many applicants understand that now is a time to ask for what you need, not necessarily what you want,” says one of the programme’s project managers Clyte Linwood, also of the Personnel Training Unit. “By utilizing Children and Family Services and others in the community who can recognize needy families, we have been able to identify persons who might not be able to come forward and express a need for assistance.”

With a five-day turnaround time for fully completed applications, the first grant recipients will be receiving their cheques this week.

The Cayman Islands National Recovery Fund

Another programme that is available for those in need is the Cayman Islands National Recovery Fund (NRF), a privately funded programme with funds in excess of CI$3million. They are committed to actively seeking more funds to accommodate the many applications still coming into the office.

“We have received almost 1,100 applications and already about 300 are in the process of being reviewed by our site inspector,” says Angela Martins, Executive Director for the NRF. “Our focus is on getting as much help out to people as quickly as possible. We have many initiatives in place to ensure that materials are available, as well as local contractors from all the districts, to support the recovery process. “

Housing Assistance Grant

Deadline: 30 November 2004

Priority: Applicants with a total household income below CI$40,000, the uninsured, elderly and indigent

Maximum funds granted: CI$15,000

Criteria:

-Damage must be a result of Hurricane Ivan

-Funds to be used strictly for permanent structure repairs and primary dwelling restoration

-Funds used for property damage not covered by insurance

-Must be owner occupied, single dwelling unit

-Must be Caymanian or hold Caymanian status

An application is considered complete only when an estimate for repair or restoration is provided along with:

-Copy of passport, birth certificate, or other evidence of Caymanian Status

-Land registry information if available

Turnaround Time:

There is a five-day response time for completed applications. Those applications received without the estimate cannot be processed until the necessary information is provided.

Applications can be picked up at Cayman Islands Development Bank, on Dr. Roy’s Drive.

Contact numbers: 326-4060/4061/4062/4063/4064

Cayman Islands National Recovery Fund

Deadline: None

Maximum funds granted: CI$10,000

Priority: families with young children, elderly, disabled

Criteria:Any person who has been injured, bereaved, rendered homeless, destitute or otherwise adversely affected by Hurricane Ivan including low income persons may apply.

Applications can be picked up at police stations, gas stations, churches and the office at Trinity Square.

Contact numbers: 943-3863, 925-5591/5592/5593/5594

*Note: Eligible persons may apply to both the National Recovery Fund (NRF) and the Housing Recovery Grant. However, they may not receive more than CI$15,000 in total. This limit is monitored by both the NRF and CIDB.