NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Acting Director of Social Services Lillian Quant-Forbes said while all Hurricane Dorian shelters have closed, the government continues to assist storm victims with food, rent and other assistance.
In the aftermath of the deadly storm, which ravaged Abaco and most of Grand Bahama, the government activated several shelters across the country, housing more than 2,000 people at its peak.
Hundreds of those shelterees were staying at Kendal G L Isaacs Gymnasium.
The last shelter, the Bahamas Academy Gymnasium closed at the end of July.
“The numbers of persons who we would have assisted, many we helped with rent, many we helped with tickets to return to their place of origin,” said Quant-Forbes during a press conference last week.
“…Those others [that] are still among us…we are assisting them with rent, food assistance with whatever type of assistance.”
Shelterees from Kendal G. L Isaacs Gym were temporarily relocated to Poinciana Inn for some three months and later relocated.
Last week, Minister of Social Services Frankie Campbell advised that the majority of the cost to shelter storm victims was “free”.
“They were as a result of churches and other institutions, allowing us to use their facilities, Campbell said.
“And then you would recall there were a number of non-governmental organizations used for the feeding. So for the most part, I’m satisfied to say based on the number of persons who were accommodated throughout the ordeal, whatever the final cost is, will not be anywhere near to what the actual number of persons that we were able to assist at that time.”
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