40 Needy Persons Receive Houses in South East St. Mary

Housing solutions for 40 needy persons in South Eastern St. Mary have been provided through Food for the Poor, in partnership with Member of Parliament for the constituency, Tarn Peralto.
The two bedroom units were handed over to the recipients during a presentation function, held at the Cape Clear Training Centre in St. Mary, on Thursday, November 26.
These houses were built on lands owned or leased by the participants, and were constructed as a result of representations made to the Food for the Poor organisation by Mr. Peralto, after a detailed assessment of the housing needs of the constituency.
Construction of the houses commenced approximately one year ago and was completed in October.
Approximately US$200,000 (J$18 million) was spent on the project by Food for the Poor, while $2 million was provided by Mr. Peralto from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
Speaking at the handing over function, Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, with responsibility for the CDF, Mrs. Shahine Robinson, congratulated the recipients and commended Food for the Poor and Mr. Peralto for partnering to make the project a reality.
She said the operation of the CDF has been established to enable Members of Parliament to address the needs of the constituencies, adding that budgetary constraints have forced its reduction from $40 million last year to $20 million this year.
Emphasising that there is no better way to help a community than through the provision of housing for its residents, she said the presentation has given the beneficiaries a start through which they can empower themselves and achieve much more in respect of personal and community development.
In his address, Mr. Peralto said he was happy to be a part of the initiative to provide houses for needy persons in his constituency.
He said the initiative is a perfect example of the development that can be realised when Government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) combine their resources and work together.
Speaking to JIS News after the ceremony, several of the recipients expressed gratitude to both Food for the Poor and Mr. Peralto for the assistance, and expressed the sense of pride they feel in being able to own their own homes.