McKenzie unveils climate-resilient housing for Jamaica’s most vulnerable

Jamaica is building stronger, smarter and safer homes for its most vulnerable citizens.

Minister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie has reaffirmed the Government's commitment to climate-resilient housing, ensuring that the Indigent Housing Programme is built to withstand the test of time.

Speaking at a recent handover ceremony in Burnt Savannah, St Elizabeth, McKenzie made it clear: this is not just about shelter - it's about security, dignity, and survival.

"The difference with our programme is that we are moving with the times," McKenzie declared. "While we acknowledge that the previous method of building [houses] benefited a lot of people, the Government realised that we need to improve the quality [and] the standard of the housing."

One of the latest beneficiaries, Enid Brown, lost everything when a devastating fire ripped through her home in June 2023. But thanks to the Indigent Housing Programme, she now has a brand new, fully furnished two-bedroom home. The tragedy deeply impacted her family - her granddaughter, Ackalia Dunkley, suffered third-degree burns after a gas stove explosion. Now, Brown can rebuild her life in a home built for the future.

Brown was one of two beneficiaries who received keys that day, marking another step forward in Jamaica's mission to protect its people from disaster.

"One of the things we took into consideration is Jamaica's place in the top tier when it comes on to [natural] disasters. We are in the top five most [disaster prone] countries in the world, and we sit right in the centre of the fault line for earthquakes. We are prone to hurricanes and because of that, when you are investing in housing development you have to invest on a long-term basis," McKenzie emphasised.