Single Mother Gets Home in Time for Christmas
By: , December 5, 2024
Photo: Yhomo Hutchinson
Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (left), and New Social Housing Programme (NSHP) beneficiary, Andrea Gaynor (second right), cut a ribbon during Wednesday’s (December 4) handover ceremony for a housing unit presented to her in Bannister, St. Catherine. They are joined by (from second left) Principal Financial Officer in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Judith Robb-Walters, and Member of Parliament for St. Catherine South Western, Everald Warmington.
Photo: Yhomo Hutchinson
Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (left), and Member of Parliament for St. Catherine South Western, Everald Warmington, share in New Social Housing Programme (NSHP) beneficiary, Andrea Gaynor’s joy as she displays the keys to her new home, during Wednesday’s (December 4) handover ceremony for the unit in Bannister, St. Catherine.
Photo: Yhomo Hutchinson
Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, converses with New Social Housing Programme (NSHP) beneficiary, Andrea Gaynor, during Wednesday’s (December 4) handover ceremony for a housing unit she received in Bannister, St. Catherine.The Full Story
Andrea Gaynor of Bannister district in St. Catherine is anticipating a wonderful Christmas with her children, after receiving the keys to her home under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP) on Wednesday (December 4).
The tearful recipient told Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, who made the presentation, that she plans to put up Christmas lights.
Ms. Gaynor expressed gratitude to the Government and the workmen who constructed her house, which took longer than expected due to the rocky state of the land on which it was built.
She noted that her living arrangement, for some 10 years, “wasn’t easy”, citing challenges and conflicts encountered within the shared house she occupied with her children. This, she pointed out, made life “very difficult” for them.
An emotional Ms. Gaynor said, however, that she “[kept] the faith and [held] on”, adding that she was happy that her decision to visit the office of Member of Parliament for St. Catherine South Western, Everald Warmington, to share her plight resulted in her being provided with a house.
Dr. Holness said the Government is very pleased it was able to facilitate a transformation in Ms. Gaynor’s life, especially in time for Christmas.
“I’m sure all of Jamaica is celebrating with you and is very happy for you and see that you are genuinely deserving of this benefit,” he stated.
Dr. Holness estimated that there are about 6,000 households across Jamaica with substandard housing conditions.
“The objective of this programme is to address those persons, in addition to addressing persons who have been displaced by virtue of some natural disaster or fire; and then we also try to assist persons who are living in tenement yards right across the island, and we have done a few of those.
“The programme, though specifically designed, has been very helpful to persons in circumstances like yours, where you have nowhere to live, you are living with persons in circumstances that are not ideal, you are at risk and, at any time, you could be put out,” the Prime Minister explained.
He informed that the NSHP has assisted about 10 such individuals, including people who have been suffering from domestic abuse and those in exploitative situations.