Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the government’s New Social Housing Programme (NSHP) is setting a new benchmark for how housing can be delivered in Jamaica, demonstrating that homes for vulnerable Jamaicans can be structurally sound, thoughtfully designed, and aesthetically pleasing, while contributing positively to the wider community.

Speaking at the handover of newly constructed multi-family units along Brooks Level Road in Stony Hill on January 30, 2026, the prime minister explained that the programme is designed not only to provide housing for persons who cannot access mortgages or formal housing, but also to serve as a practical example of how residential development should take place.

“Every one of these houses that we have built acts as a symbol, an example, of how we should seek to construct housing in communities across the island,” Holness said, noting that the Stony Hill development shows how quality design can improve both the physical environment and how residents feel about their surroundings.

“We don’t have to accept poor-quality housing; we can build homes that are pleasing,” the prime minister stated. “When you put up structures that are aesthetically pleasing, it lifts the area. It lifts how you feel. It lifts how the built environment looks, and you feel better about yourself and your community.”

He pointed out that the new units comfortably accommodate the families who previously lived on the property, including households displaced by a fire in 2023, and are built to resilient standards. The prime minister said this reflects the government’s broader effort to improve housing quality while strengthening communities against the impacts of extreme weather.

Holness added that each NSHP project is intended to raise expectations and inspire wider improvement, noting that a single well-designed home can help set higher standards across an entire community, encouraging positive change in the surrounding area.