The Department of Social Services closed the resort after it was opened as an emergency residential facility to house 256 people in 73 rooms some 19 weeks ago.
Dozens of homes were destroyed, broken down and washed away by storm surges and floods, rendering hundreds homeless.
A total of 184 adults and 122 children were placed at the country club, mostly from the Williams Town, Hunters, Mack Town, Lewis Yard, Pinder’s Point, Hepburn Town, Bartlett Hill, Hanna Hill, Martin Town, Sea Grape, Holmes Rock, Bootle Bay and West End areas.
By December, the numbers had dropped to 209 occupants.
Families who relocated and needed rental assistance were given special consideration by government with a maximum of $500 a month up to a period of three months.
The resort was closed a week ago today.
“At that point and time all of the residents had been relocated. Some of them had returned to their homes which had been repaired and had undergone renovations and others have been accommodated throughout the community in various apartments,” said Lillian Quant-Forbes, assistant di-rector with the Department of Social Services.
She noted that by Friday, all the families had vacated the premises except for one person.
The department made some additional accommodation arrangements for her in the Eight Mile Rock area.
The stay at the resort, which has been closed since September 2004 after Hurricane Frances, was challenging for both Social Services and those who resided there.
Some families had their homes completely destroyed, while the homes of others were repairable.
Still, there are those who are waiting for new homes to be constructed said Mrs. Quant-Forbes, but Social Services is still assisting those residents who were housed at the resort and those who had not been accommodated at the facility with rental payments.
“The Grand Bahama Port Authority had gotten 18 apartments through Bain Industries and all of those apartments have been occupied,” she added,
Meantime, some of the residents who owned their homes and who qualify for their homes to be rebuilt by the government are waiting for those homes to be completed, while some are looking at long term facilities.
By LEDEDRA MARCHE, Senior FN Reporter
