Prime Minister Andrew Holness broke ground on the East Palms Housing Development Relocation Project on Wednesday, a critical step in restoring hope and stability for families affected by the 2021 fire in Kingston Central.

That tragic event displaced 13 residents, including children and the elderly. “We are going to transform a yard that was destroyed by arson. We are going to transform lives that were destroyed in that fire, being deprived of somewhere to live and their equipment and their clothing. We are going to transform the lives of children who were affected by this fire, who had no place to study. We are going to be transforming a community that, by virtue of this act of violence and the destruction of the residents the community would have been depressed. We have not forgotten their suffering, and today, we act,” Holness said.

This project falls under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP), a key part of the HOPE initiative, which affirms that every Jamaican deserves safe, dignified shelter. It also marks the second multifamily unit under the Tenement Yard Programme.

Holness also stated that this initiative is part of the government’s continued commitment to uplifting vulnerable Jamaicans and transforming inner-city communities through dignified, resilient, and modern housing solutions.

The East Palms Housing Development will include seven apartment-style units, ranging from studios to three-bedroom homes, built with reinforced concrete, modern infrastructure, and secure utilities. These units will move families out of unsafe, overcrowded tenement yards into formal, resilient housing.

Across Jamaica, the NSHP has already delivered 290 units in 57 constituencies, with 65 more projects set to begin this year. “This is not talk. This is delivery,” Holness said.

Beneficiaries will sign agreements to protect the integrity of the programme. These homes cannot be sold or altered for 20 years without approval.

“This is a social contract, one of shared responsibility between the government and the citizen. The East Palms project is a symbol of national renewal. We are building Jamaica, community by community, home by home,” Holness added.