ODPEM says $600M from donated Hurricane Melissa relief funds earmarked to support Modular Housing Solutions initiative

Some of the underutilized funds donated for Hurricane Melissa relief has been earmarked to support the Modular Housing Solutions initiative.

The limited use of donated funds was highlighted by the Auditor General in a report tabled in Parliament on Tuesday.

The AG noted that as of February, only $26 million of the over $1 billion donated had been used.

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), has sought to explain that the low rate of cash expenditure from the donated funds was not due to inaction or a lack of recovery activity.

In a statement ODPEM said as the post-Hurricane Melissa recovery programme continues to transition from structured recovery and reconstruction, $600 million from the donated funds has been earmarked to support the shelter recovery programme through the rapidly deployable Modular Housing Solutions Programme.

ODPEM said these funds will support the construction of concrete bases for the modular housing units.

This is an essential enabling component of the intervention, as the bases support safe installation, anchoring, drainage, durability, utility connections and long-term habitability of the units, particularly within Jamaica’s hazard-prone environment.

The construction of concrete bases also protects the Government’s investment by reducing the risk of premature deterioration, instability, water damage, corrosion, structural movement and unsafe utility connections.

This element of the programme is being advanced in coordination with the relevant ministries, departments and agencies.