Systematic Approach Being Taken to Deal with Poverty – PM

The Government is taking a systematic approach to deal with the issue of poverty in Jamaica, says Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness.

Delivering the 254th unit under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP) in St. Mary on Thursday (September 19), Dr. Holness said, “We have never taken our eyes off the poor. We understand what has happened since the pandemic.

“The pandemic has created significant economic dislocation… the Government’s intention is to ensure that we have sufficient programmes to help, especially the absolute poor, in our country. [We are] being very systematic in how we deal with the issue of poverty in Jamaica,” he added.

He reiterated that the NSHP is an intervention to address absolute poverty in the country, especially as it relates to shelter.

“We estimate that there are approximately 6,000 households in Jamaica that would be in absolute shelter poverty, meaning that they have no proper roofing, that their structure is probably rotted and about to collapse, their shelter does not provide them with protection from the elements [and] some do not have any paved flooring,” Dr. Holness said.

Noting that to build 6,000 houses is a massive undertaking, the Prime Minister committed to increasing the pace at which houses are delivered under the NSHP, starting next year.

He said that the intention is to not have any Jamaican family living in inappropriate shelter within the next five years.

Currently, there are more than 300 units in different phases of completion under the programme.

“Today we can say that we have lifted a family out of absolute poverty. We want all Jamaicans to have shelter, so that they are able to use that shelter to build their family and build wealth. Today, one more family is on track for that,” the Prime Minister said.

A total of five units were handed over under the programme on September 19, in St. Mary and St. Catherine.

The NSHP was established in 2018 by the Prime Minister.

It is the housing component of the Housing, Opportunity, Production and Employment (HOPE) programme, which is implemented through the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation.

The initiative aims to improve the housing condition and the quality of life for the most vulnerable Jamaicans.