Straight from the HEART - St Thomas fire victim gifted ‘tiny house’

St Thomas resident Callel Thomas is grateful that she can now relax and ' kotch up" her feet in her tiny house, which was constructed by trainees of the Human Employment and Resource Training/National Service Training Agency (HEART/NSTA) Trust.

The unit was built at a cost of $4.7 million under the agency's 'Tiny House Project'. Thomas received the keys to her new single-unit home, located at Stanton Housing Scheme in Spring Garden, St Thomas, on August 8.

"Today I am so glad, because tonight I can relax. I can push away the curtains and I can kotch up my [feet] in my 'likkle' tiny house. Lots of thanks to all who stretched forth their hands towards me, and I pray your food basket may never run dry," Thomas said.

Thomas was left homeless after her house was razed by fire. She recalled that in the aftermath she cried, but decided not to stress over the loss because her life was spared.

Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon, minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, " noted that there is earning potential across all the skill areas used in the construction and furnishing of the house".

"As we hand over [this] 'non-tiny' house today, I want to thank the HEART team. I have to thank the HEART trainees. When you see a house like this, it tells you that we're doing good training," she said.

Managing Director of HEART/NSTA Trust Dr Taneisha Ingleton disclosed that the bed donated was built by the HEART College of Construction Service in Portmore, and that the bedding and curtains were provided by Garmex Academy. The kitchen fixtures, inclusive of cupboards and countertops, were built by the Port Maria Vocational Training Centre. The roofing and painting were undertaken by HEART trainees at the Buff Bay Vocational Training Centre, while the electrical works were carried out by the Port Maria Vocational Training Centre.

"This is a true HEART house... . I know that you will find comfort in your new home... from our HEART to yours," Dr Ingleton said, to a rousing applause.