PAAC reviews ROOFS payouts and Solidarity grant spending

Parliament’s Public Administration and Appropriations Committee on May 27 reviewed two major Ministry of Labour and Social Security initiatives: the ROOFS hurricane shelter grant programme and the Solidarity programme for vulnerable Jamaicans.

Acting Permanent Secretary Dian Jennings told the committee that ROOFS, formally the Restoration of Owner or Occupant Family Shelters programme, was set up as a $10-billion response for households affected by Hurricane Melissa on October 28, 2025. Grants ranged from $75,000 to $500,000, depending on whether damage was assessed as minor, major or severe.

The ministry reported 94,000 cleaned and verified assessments, with about 74,000 put through geospatial checks. Jennings said disbursements had reached roughly $9.45 billion, including $8.466 billion through digital vouchers, $526 million by prepaid cards and $408 million through remittance agencies.

Officials said verified damage across nine parishes included 32,324 minor cases, 37,826 major cases and 16,709 severely damaged or destroyed homes, for a total of 86,859. More than 81,000 beneficiaries had redeemed support, while about 54,000 households remained at different stages of verification and reconciliation. The ministry said duplicate records, incomplete household details, TRN mismatches, telephone changes and geospatial inconsistencies were among the issues slowing payments.

Members pressed the ministry on people still living under tarpaulins in western parishes and asked for closer coordination with MPs, parish offices and community stakeholders. Jennings said the next phase would rely more on direct bank deposits, field visits and improved data systems.

The committee also examined the $1-billion Solidarity programme, launched in June 2025. The ministry said 11,521 people had been approved for payment, representing $230.42 million, with the collection period extended to June 30, 2026.

Beneficiary categories included 3,459 elderly applicants, 4,523 young adults not working, studying or training, 9,881 low-income informal workers, 90 adults without birth certificates, 31 people needing medical support, 156 micro business owners and 152 persons with disabilities. Officials said applicants were being referred to agencies including the Registrar General’s Department, HEART/NSTA, the National Health Fund and the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities.

Committee members questioned why most of the Solidarity allocation had not been spent. Jennings said the one-off programme had been affected by the election period, Hurricane Melissa and challenges with a new government payout system.