Stephen Smith and Naomi Springette received the keys to their new homes last Friday from the Minister of Social Development Carvin Malone.

Malone said he was very happy to be able to hand over the keys to the new home for these two families and put a smile on their faces. He also said the new homes will help to allow these persons to return to some semblance of normalcy after they were displaced by the hurricanes in 2017 due to damage to their homes.

“It is a great feeling to help persons who are in need. It makes me feel good to know that the programme is accomplishing its mission and bringing smiles to the hearts of those who are really in need,” Malone said.

Smith’s house was constructed by KAT Building Group while Quality Construction was tasked with the construction of Springette’s house.

The new homeowners were happy and appreciative to the government and expressed those sentiments during a brief handover ceremony.

Since the devastation of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, many homes were destroyed and families were displaced. The government developed the Housing Recovery Assistance Programme to help with building new homes for these families.

Fifteen families have benefited from this programme through either repairs or construction of new houses since its inception.