Modular Container Homes for Hurricane Victims Arriving In the Island

Modular container homes, aimed at providing rapid, affordable, and durable housing, have begun arriving on the island, says Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development, Hon. Robert Montague.

The Minister, who has responsibility for Land Titling and Settlements, said the units will address the urgent shelter needs following the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa.

He informed that work is being done in conjunction with municipal corporations in the affected parishes to construct the foundation for these houses.

“Those contracts are about to be signed, and we have expanded the programme where we are going to be looking at other areas that have deficiencies in housing,” Minister Montague said, while addressing the recent sitting of the Standing Finance Committee at Gordon House.

He noted, for example, that the modular units could be used in building out infirmaries to accommodate social cases at hospitals and provide transition housing for young people exiting State care.

“Wards of the State, at 18, they have to exit the children’s homes and some have nowhere to go. We want to assist, as well, to establish what they call a halfway house,” he said.

“The programme is on track and we are also going to be inviting every Member of this House to make a recommendation so that we can erect one of the units in their constituency,” Mr. Montague added.

Last year, Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, announced that the National Housing Trust (NHT) will procure 5,000 pre-built container homes for swift rollout across the island to address housing needs following the hurricane.

The units will comprise two-bedroom models, approximately 400 square feet, complete with bathroom, kitchen, and living area. Each unit comes with windows for ventilation, two metal doors, and pre-wiring that allows for easy electrical installation with minimal additional work.

Meanwhile, Minister Montague said that land titling will be scaled up in Westmoreland under the accelerated systematic land titling programme.

Westmoreland was one of the parishes hardest hit during Hurricane Melissa.

Being implemented through the National Land Agency (NLA), the systematic land titling programme is aimed at increasing the levels of land registration, providing security of tenure for thousands of families.

It enables persons, who have been in open, undisturbed and undisputed possession of their land for 12 years or more, to claim ownership of such land via the systematic land registration process.