NHT to Expand Scope of Home Grants

The National Housing Trust (NHT) will be expanding the scope of home grants and its targeted institutional loan programme, Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has announced.

Dr. Holness provided the update while making his contribution to the 2025/26 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on March 20.

He said the maximum qualifying income for home grants will now be $30,000 per week, adding that the Trust is modifying the eligibility requirements in order to make the grant available to more contributors.

Dr. Holness informed that, currently, a minimum wage earner who has contributed to the NHT for at least seven years may access a home grant of up to $3.5 million.

He said the NHT is mindful that house construction can be challenging, particularly in light of the rising costs of labour and materials.

“Consequently, a number of contributors have been unable to complete their housing units or bring it to a habitable stage, resulting in some instances in contributors having to balance limited resources between rent and servicing their construction loans,” he explained.

Dr. Holness informed that the Trust will provide options in instances where a current or retired contributor earning $30,000 per week or less accessed a Build-on-Own-Land or Construction Loan benefit to construct a housing unit comprising two bedrooms or less, for which that unit has remained incomplete for two years or more, due to the unavailability of funds.

“Firstly, offer the mortgagor an additional loan of up to the difference between the balance of the borrower’s current loan and a limit of $11 million, subject to affordability,” the Prime Minister said.

“Secondly, where this additional fund is not able to bring the unit to a habitable stage, or in the case of pensioners, there is insufficient income to support a loan arrangement, the NHT may provide a home grant of up to $3.5 million to assist in bringing the unit to completion,” he added.

Meanwhile, he pointed out that the NHT will expand its institutional loan programme and pursue partnerships with hospitals through the Ministry of Health and Wellness and Regional Health Authorities to provide housing for employees in the public health system.

“Where possible, these housing units will be constructed on the hospital compound. The NHT has begun preliminary discussions with the University Hospital of the West Indies, and one rural hospital under this programme,” he noted.

He explained that a number of contributors who work in the public health system face challenges in finding suitable housing, especially when they are not from a nearby community or where they have transferred from another health facility.