Tourism Housing Assistance Recovery Programme launched

 

 

 

The Ministry of Tourism on Tuesday launched the Tourism Housing Assistance Recovery Programme (THARP) that was established to assist workers who were displaced by Hurricane Melissa.

 

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett is anticipating that up to 20,000 workers will benefit under the programme.

 

THARP is designed to support tourism workers whose homes were damaged or destroyed during Hurricane Melissa, with targeted building relief and clear pathways to longer-term housing solutions.

 

Minister Bartlett says, in the first instance, the Tourism Enhancement Fund has allocated $70 million to provide housing vouchers valued at $100,000 each for tourism workers affected by the hurricane. 

 

The vouchers are structured into three practical packages, including Roofing & Light Repairs; Structural Repair & Foundation Support and General Rebuild & Interior Repairs.

 

Mr. Bartlett says, with the help of stakeholders, the first 100 beneficiaries have been identified with a total of 700 tourism workers set to benefit from the initial allocation. 

 

He says, so far, over 60 applications have been received, through the THARP Portal, and processing is moving swiftly. 

 

"We're not stopping at vouchers. We will construct five block-and-steel homes for tourism workers in the first instance, and then offer the 10 for those who lost everything. These are permanent, dignified homes for the men and women who have built Jamaica's tourism industry. But this is really a start of the bigger social housing programme, which we announced in the budget, and for which there is half a billion dollars that is assigned for that. So during the year of 2026, there will be additional block-and-steel houses that will be built for tourism workers who are in need," he promised.