A total of 445 housing solutions in the Perth Estate Phase 2 housing development, comprising 144 two-bedroom units and 301 serviced lots, were handed over to residents of Manchester on Wednesday.

The project, which is being undertaken by the National Housing Trust (NHT), will deliver 1,231 shelter solutions—458 two-bedroom homes and 773 serviced lots.

Prime Minister, Dr Andrew Holness, who delivered the keynote address and handed over keys to the new homeowners, congratulated the beneficiaries and hailed the NHT for working to provide affordable shelter for Jamaicans.

He said that following delays due to COVID-19, the agency is on target to deliver 43,000 solutions.

The prime minister informed that 21 housing projects, amounting to 4,856 housing solutions, are under construction across nine parishes.

A further 10,515 are at the contract stage, 11 projects have been approved and contracts are being prepared, while more than 14,000 are in the procurement and negotiation phase.

An additional 11,000 solutions are at the planning and design stage.

“We are now just getting back on track, and Jamaicans will have 43,000 housing solutions being financed or sponsored by the NHT, that will be delivered over the next five years,” Holness said.

He noted that the Housing Agency of Jamaica (JAJ) is facilitating another 15,000 solutions, and the Government is working with private developers to provide affordable solutions. “We have never had such a buoyant housing market in Jamaica,” the prime minister said.