IN a major shift aimed at speeding up recovery for thousands of families hit by Hurricane Melissa, the National Housing Trust (NHT) will allow immediate relatives to access its $3.5-million hurricane-relief loan on behalf of affected homeowners.

The new policy, announced Wednesday during a media briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister, reflects the financial strain facing residents of hard-hit communities where income streams have been disrupted and many households cannot afford repairs.

Assistant general manager for corporate communications and public affairs at NHT, Dwayne Berbick, said the trust broadened its loan facility specifically to address that challenge.

“Given that incomes have also been affected in these areas, we have extended this facility to immediate family members. So children, siblings, parents wanting to help children, a wide cross section of individuals can make an application for this loan facility on behalf of someone in a property that is affected and that would not cause any variation in the terms that the loan allows. It’s the same terms that would obtain as it relates to interest rate and time to repay,” said Berbick.

The Hurricane Relief Loan, valued at $3.5 million and offered at two per cent interest for up to 20 years, is designed to help families repair or rebuild damaged properties.

Berbick stressed that the widening of eligibility also acknowledges the reality that younger or employed family members are often the ones best positioned to assist.

He explained that the trust wanted to remove barriers that might prevent a household from accessing funds simply because the homeowner has lost his/her job or is unable to take on new debt.

It also includes a six-month moratorium after the first disbursement, meaning applicants will not begin repayment immediately.

Beyond basic repairs, Berbick also announced that the loan can be used to strengthen buildings against future events.

“We hear the stories that hurricanes will be more frequent and will be more intense. So if in preparation, let’s say a homeowner wants to move from timber roofing and convert that to slab roofing as part of the repair process, the NHT will allow the loan facility to go towards that as well,” said Berbick.

Alongside the loan, the NHT is offering a $500,000 Disaster Relief Grant, which can also be accessed by immediate family members. Pensioners — even those no longer contributing — are included, reflecting the heavy losses suffered by older Jamaicans whose properties were damaged.

Berbick told the media briefing that the NHT has also deployed a Starlink-powered mobile unit to reach cut-off communities, ensuring residents can file relief paperwork even if they lack electricity or Internet access.

The NHT is also urging affected mortgagors to make full use of its peril insurance coverage, which is built into monthly mortgage payments and provides compensation for structural damage caused by natural disasters.

“So we have in our portfolio just about approximately 130,000 mortgagors. So if there are any individuals who service their mortgage with the NHT and are impacted, at this time they’re able to put in a peril insurance claim. So we ask that you, of course, document the damage and document it properly, take photographs before, after, if you have them, during, if you so happen to have the state of mind to have recorded some of the damage while it was taking place,” said Berbick.

The submission deadline for peril insurance claims has been pushed back to January 15, 2026 after NHT negotiated a 30-day extension with its insurers. This move follows concerns that many households are still without stable living conditions, electricity, or Internet access, making online submissions difficult.

Additionally, Berbick noted that mortgagors in the seven hardest-hit parishes have been granted a full mortgage moratorium on principal, interest, life insurance, and peril insurance premiums until April 30 next year — the most comprehensive pause ever offered by the NHT.

The first payment will now become due on May 1, though Berbick signalled that the trust is willing to show further flexibility.

He said the agency remains mindful that recovery will not progress at the same pace for every household.

“I’ll dare say, if May 1 comes and you’re still not yet ready or in a position to start making those payments, we will extend that moratorium where necessary,” he said.

He added that homeowners outside the parishes severely affected may also qualify for payment relief, but these cases, he said, will be individually assessed. Those demonstrating hurricane damage can apply through the dedicated online platform nht.gov.jm/recover, which consolidates all forms, checklists, and frequently asked questions.

One of the houses destroyed in Accompong Town, St Elizabeth, during the passage of Hurricane Melissa. (Photo: Gavin Jones)

Volunteers and response teams from the South West St Elizabeth Relief Command coordinate rebuilding efforts and distribute supplies to residents whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Melissa.