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JAM | Jun 2, 2023

Over 523 persons benefit under the New Social Housing Programme

/ Our Today

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Prime Minister, Andrew Holness (second right), cuts the ribbon to hand over a three-bedroom unit to Burnesa Blake (centre) in Williamsfield, Manchester on (April 14). Others pictured (from left) are community member, Ian Hibbert; Member of Parliament for Manchester Central, Rhoda Moy Crawford and Chairperson of the Oversight Committee for the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP), Judith Robb Walters. The house was built under the NSHP, which is an initiative of the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation. The initiative is geared at improving the housing condition of the country’s most vulnerable population (Photo: JIS).

More than 523 Jamaicans across 48 constituencies have, so far, benefited under the Government’s New Social Housing Programme (NSHP).

A total of 137 housing units, or 331 rooms, have been completed under the initiative, as of April 21, 2023.

Minister Without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Everald Warmington, made the disclosure during his 2023/24 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on Wednesday (May 31).

Everald Warmington, minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation. (Photo: JIS)

“The Ministry is proud of the achievements of the New Social Housing Programme as it continues to be a flagship initiative of this Government,” he said.

Warmington also informed that the Ministry’s Social Housing Programme, albeit a different engagement from the NSHP, has similar objectives towards restoring human dignity amongst the indigent and those living in substandard conditions.

“Hundreds of Jamaicans have benefited from this programme, and we are proud to announce that during the 2022/23 financial year, grants totalling some $40,345,522.13 were disbursed,” he said.

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (left), presents the key to Roger Mitchell (centre), a recipient of a three-bedroom unit under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP), in Straun Castle, Manchester, recently. Sharing in the occasion are Transport and Mining Minister, and Member of Parliament for Manchester North East, Hon. Audley Shaw (right), and (foreground) family members of the new homeowner, Roger Mitchell Jr. and Brianna Mitchell. (Contributed photo: JIS)

Meanwhile, through the Census of Squatter Settlements initiative, the Ministry has collated data on nine parishes or 290 settlements, with the remaining parishes to be completed in Fiscal Year 2023/24.

“This data will inform appropriate intervention strategies to deal with squatting, which has been a persistent issue for many years,” Warmington stated.

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