Over 1,000 Units Built Under Jamaica Emergency Housing Programme

A total of 1,342 wooden units have been built under the Jamaica Emergency Housing Programme, as the Government continues to provide shelter for the most vulnerable.

This was disclosed by Minister with responsibility for Housing, Hon. Dr. Morais Guy during his contribution to the 2014/15 Sectoral Debate in Parliament on Wednesday, June 4.

The programme, which is a collaboration of the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP), the National Housing Trust, and Food for the Poor, is intended to construct 9,000 wooden and concrete housing units over five-years.

The Minister pointed out that annually, “that should result in 1,200 wooden and 600 concrete units,” noting that the concrete units are being built and sold under the NHT’s First Step Housing Programme.

Dr. Guy explained that the wooden units were originally intended for equal distribution across all constituencies, but the Government altered the programme following the passage of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, to assist persons who had lost their homes.

“Consequently, to date, some 435 units have been built for hurricane victims. These units have been handed over to residents, in a non-partisan manner, in the three most ravaged parishes,” he said. These include: St. Mary (113 units); St. Thomas (141 units) and 181 in Portland (181 units).

The Minister further noted that with the reduction in financing from the PetroCaribe Fund, the allocation this year will be adjusted to 10 wooden units per constituency.