100 vulnerable families to receive help to replace household items

One hundred families still vulnerable because of last year’s hurricanes are down to receive more assistance through a ‘household replacement project’.

The project is a collaboration between the BVI Red Cross and the Social Development Department.

“The objective is to support the recovery efforts of the Ministry of Health & Social Development in assisting the 100 most vulnerable households with replacing household appliances or getting back into proper living facilities,” Director of the BVI Red Cross, Helen Frett told BVI News yesterday, June 26.

The 100 families will be given grants which, Frett said, can be used to furnish their homes, buy basic-need items, or pay a deposit for rented accommodation.

According to Frett, the grant will target two sets of people.

The first set comprises 30 families still living in emergency shelters. Each of those families will receive approximately $2,000.

The second set will be 70 vulnerable families who have a home but are in need of various household items. The actual amount of funds given to this group will vary based on a family’s vulnerability score.

The higher scoring families, which represent those who are most vulnerable, will receive $1,500. Families whose vulnerability score is medium will get $1,200 and households with the lowest vulnerability score will receive $1,000.

The grants each family receives will come in the form of vouchers which can be spent at select furniture and appliance stores namely Island Department Store, One Mart Superstore, Bargain Center, Wild Rose Furniture Store or Radio Doctor on Tortola, and Rosie’s Superette on Virgin Gorda, among others.

Frett said the funds for the project are from a $12,000 Fred Olsen cruise ship donation and some $208,000 left over from the previous Joint Cash Programme that saw 1,074 persons receiving financial grants of $800 to $1200 through bank transfers and cheques.

That programme started in November 2017 and ended in January 2018.

Requirements 

To be an eligible recipient of the household replacement project, applicants must have a habitable space in which to put household items they have lost.  This is the first step which has to be passed before they can move through the selection process.

Proof of monthly income and loss of household items are also necessary.

The registration process started on June 25 and the programme will run for one month beginning July 23 and ending on August 25.

Interested persons residing on the sister islands of Anegada, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke will also have the opportunity to apply via their district officers.

Those on Tortola can visit the BVI Red Cross or Social Development Department. Virgin Gorda residents can apply at the Elderly Home in The Valley.