Single Mother Realises Dream of Homeownership

When single mother of five, Stacy-Ann Stevens, got the call that she would be the recipient of a home under the New Social Housing Programme(NSHP), she jumped for joy.

“To how mi happy, mi jump so high!,” the Manchester native related at a recent ceremony to hand over the completed dwelling.

“I have longed for my own home …. I’ve been waiting, waiting,” she said.
Ms. Stevens was one of five persons from the parish to receive the keys to new units.

Member of Parliament (MP) for Manchester Central, Rhoda Moy Crawford, who was present at the ceremony said she shared in Ms. Stevens’ joy.

“This is one of my proudest and happiest moments… this is the first time that the Government of Jamaica … is handing over concrete structures to needy persons. Of the five recipients … I’ve never seen any as involved as Stacy… she moved all the material by herself… Stacy, we’re all happy for you,” the MP said.

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has noted that housing is part of the ‘Jamaican dream.’

He said that the NSHP is a testament to the Government’s commitment to ensuring that Jamaicans can realise their goal of home ownership.

“In November 2018, I made the announcement that the Government of Jamaica would be implementing a social housing initiative under the Housing, Opportunity, Production and Employment Programme (HOPE).

“The programme was developed to improve the housing condition of the country’s indigent population,” the Prime Minister pointed out.

He noted that needy persons have benefitted from the programme including a single mother of five, an amputee, a stroke survivor, vendors, and a fire victim.

The Prime Minister said that the Government is not selecting beneficiaries by virtue of their political association or involvement.
“There is no favoritism, no nepotism… this is a non-partisan programme,” he said.

NSHP incorporates three modalities, provision of indigent housing— with a total of 315 houses per year (five per constituency), relocation of communities, giving priority to those in imminent danger, and upgrading of tenement yards (one per constituency).

Over 100 houses have been built and handed over to date.

MPs play an important role in the selection of participants as they help identify constituents who are in need.

Of the names submitted by each constituency per year, a committee of technical experts from the housing division of the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation is tasked with ensuring the persons meet the criteria for assistance.

Field officers are then sent in to find out about the land selected and other issues that may arise that could be a deterrent to persons benefitting.