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CIG approves $2.1 Million for housing repairs

Front Pages 23 Aug, 2023 Follow News

CIG approves $2.1 Million for housing repairs

The Cayman Islands Government (CIG) has announced that it has committed over CI$2,100,000 to assist with housing repairs in a two-phase initiative.

The first programme is under the Ministry for Investment, Innovation and Social Development (MIISD) and it provides housing repair assistance to Caymanians who are financially supported by Government, and who are elderly, disabled or who have children who are in need.

Since May 2021, the MIISD HRA Programme, in partnership with the R3

Foundation has repaired 88 homes in Grand Cayman.

“Keeping Caymanian families safe, secure and comfortable in their homes is a priority of our administration,” said Hon. Acting Premier Juliana O’Connor Connolly. “This approval reflects our commitment to that priority.”

Hon. Minister Andre Ebanks, responsible for Investment, Innovation and Social Development (MIISD) remarked: “We are determined to assist Caymanian families who would not otherwise be able to afford the necessary repairs to maintain a dry, healthy, safe and liveable environment for them and their families. I am grateful for Cabinet’s approval of an additional CI$550,000 to expand the existing Housing Repairs Assistance (HRA) programme.”

A second housing repairs initiative is being administered by the National Housing and Development Trust (NHDT) as an entity with the ability to conduct home repairs where referrals are beyond the scope of the HRA programme, according to a government release.

This will complement the efforts of the existing MIISD programme and will allow additional persons to be assisted with housing repairs.

“As a Government, we believe that having a dry and safe home is critical to the well-being of our Caymanian families. In addition to authorizing the NHDT to utilize up to CI$1,100,000 of their budget for home repairs, today we also approved an additional CI$500,000 for a total of CI$1,600,000.” said Hon. Minister Jay Ebanks, responsible for Planning, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure.

The National Housing and Development Trust (NHDT) will collaborate with the Housing Repair (HRA) Programme along with the Ministry of Social Development concerning housing repair across Grand Cayman; the Sister Islands have their own existing repair programme under the Ministry of District Administration.

According to the official criteria, in order to maximise combined efforts, NHDT will focus primarily on housing repair cases where applicants are ineligible for HRA assistance.

It said that would include situations where a household is not deemed as “indigent” according to the Needs Assessment Criteria, the estimated amount, if the complexity of repairs is beyond the HRA remit, or if the applicant‘s home is insured but the homeowner cannot afford the deductible.

“This money will enable the most vulnerable Caymanian families to make their households safe and secure. On behalf of the many families who will benefit from this injection of funds, I thank my elected colleagues for giving this matter the urgency, attention and compassion it deserved,” said Acting Premier Juliana O’Connor Connolly.


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