30 Housing Units for PATH Families by March 31

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier, said that 30 housing units are slated to be constructed by March 31 to benefit families under the Programme for Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH).

The provision comes under the social housing programme, which got underway in 2013, and is being undertaken through partnership with Food for the Poor at cost of $30 million.

Already, 27 one and two-bedroom housing units have been provided for PATH beneficiaries in the parishes of Hanover, St. Catherine, St. Thomas, Clarendon, Kingston and St. Andrew and St. James.

“It is anticipated that a further 30 housing units will be constructed by the end of this financial year, bringing the total number of families on PATH to be assisted to 57,” the Minister said.

He was speaking on Friday, February 7, at the handing over of keys to Joslyn Scott and family of Plantation Heights in Cambridge, South St. James.

Minister Kellier said the social housing project is another initiative by Government to build stable communities and provide for the needs of vulnerable Jamaicans.

He said that because of this intervention, families on PATH that have not been able to provide suitable housing for themselves, given their socio-economic conditions, can now improve their lives in a sustainable way.

“The Government is working swiftly to ensure that every Jamaican, especially the poor and vulnerable, has access to basic education, health care, a safe environment, employment and more critically, housing …the Government recognizes that poverty is a multi-dimensional social condition and as such, for any intervention to meaningfully alleviate poverty, it must include the empowerment of families,” he stated.

Mr. Kellier urged persons to utilize whatever assistance has been provided by Government to better their lives and secure the future of their children.

“Poverty can be reduced, it must be reduced if we are to really take our place in this 21^st century in what we call a global village and indeed, if we want to make 2030 the developmental year where we will make Jamaica the place to live, raise families, do business and to retire,” the Minister said.