Recognising the many climate incidences where poor housing solutions have left Jamaicans susceptible to millions in damage, Minister of Housing and Climate Change, Pearnel Charles Jr, says the government will be placing greater emphasis on building more planned, affordable and resilient housing infrastructures.

Charles made the announcement while addressing Day One of the JN Foundation’s Climate Change, Sustainability and Innovation Water Summit held last Thursday (May 13).

During his address, Charles highlighted that data obtained from a national survey which took place across 219 settlements, showcased “that squatting in some cases results from the need to be closer to economic opportunity, especially in areas where there is an inadequate supply of affordable housing”.

He noted that “the circumstances that led to squatting in the first place are the same circumstances that have made informal communities vulnerable to the impacts of climate change”.

Given this, the minister said that “this is what we as a Government and as a people must have the resolve to solve”.

He stated that the data, from the survey, would be utilised to inform the squatter management policy “that will provide the strategic direction we need to address squatting, with the aim of arresting the practice and fostering orderly planned development of our land resources…”.

He furthered that, “building resilience through proper planning and housing development can reduce the issues associated with these communities including health challenges, loss of productivity, displacement due to hazards, and other risks such as untreated or contaminated water”.

In order to achieve safe, affordable and legal housing solutions, Charles proposed that investments into resilient infrastructure must be made, temporary housing must be made available for those displaced by flooding and landslides and technical support on sustainable building techniques should be offered.

All of this, he said, will aid in spreading the narrative that “there is a better way to build, there is a better way to plan…”.