SPECIAL FEATURE: The stories of the homeless

Posted on October 4, 2023

OCHO RIOS, St. Ann: “Good treatment, love and care” is why 26-year-old Jessica Daley continues to visit the Ocho Rios Drop-In Centre in St. Ann.

Here she receives meals, medical attention and engages in recreational activities with peers. The mother of two girls, who is a native of Chester Castle in Hanover, has called the resort town home more than five years ago.

“I lived with my grandparents and thy dies when I was 15 years old and I moved to Ocho to live with family and try to get a better living,” she said.

While all her dreams did not materialize, she decided to deal with the hand that life had dealt her and started selling juices on the streets of Ocho Rios to earn a living.

She was unable to properly care for her children and the girls’ paternal grandparents decided to become their legal guardian.

Jessica has a roof over her head but is unable to buy food. Last October, she suffered a stroke that affected movement on the left side of her body.

“Dem treat me very good here at the Centre where I come to get food and clothes.”

In between therapy sessions at the hospital, Jessica is already eyeing a course in housekeeping when she regains use of her entire body.

The Ocho Rios Drop-In Centre is centrally located in Buckfield, St. Ann and caters to the basic needs of vulnerable persons including the homeless and mentally challenged.

Like Jessica, 60-year-old Byron Gilzene also accesses the services at the Ocho Rios Drop-In Centre. His story is one that saw him working as a customs broker in Kingston before he ‘relocated’ to Ocho Rios when he entered a drug detoxification programme at Teen Challenge (located on Milford Road at the time).

He relapsed, and several times after, and the streets became his home.

“It was a rough time for me as I was now homeless and destitute and living on the streets,” shared the well-spoken man. “

According to Mr. Gilzene, his church family at the Shaw Park Assembly of God introduced him to the Drop-In Centre where he is treated with respect.

While he still battles with addiction, he wants to resuscitate his landscaping business by sourcing some tools for his trade. He now takes care of the grounds at the Ocho Rios Drop-In Centre.

He is also happy that a homeless shelter is now at the Drop-in Centre and will provide the environment for safety and relaxation.

“I will definitely be sleeping there as I was violated on the streets. People are cruel to the homeless. I was ridiculed and abused,” Mr. Gilzene added. “I went back to Teen Challenge recently to get help and it will be different this time around.”

MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT JOINS EFFORT TO CONTAIN DENGUE

Posted on October 3, 2023October 3, 2023

KINGSTON,  (JIS):

The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development will be providing funds for the emergency response to contain the dengue outbreak, says Portfolio Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie.

Speaking with journalists at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston on September 27, the Minister noted that the resources will be channelled through the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA).

He said discussions have commenced with the Ministry of Health and Wellness to have the “agency roll out some programmes” to ensure communities are cleaned.

The Minister said that within a few days the clean-up programmes will start in the areas identified by the Health Ministry and then extended to other communities, while urging community members to ensure that “proper garbage disposal” is carried out.

“There has to be a shared responsibility by Jamaicans in the fight against dengue and the protracted fight that we have in ensuring that we have a clean country,” Minister McKenzie said.

For his part, Executive Director of the NSWMA, Audley Gordon, said the “problematic sites” are earmarked for action, such as removal of bulky waste by his teams, and the “NSWMA is fully ready to play its part in what we are asked to do, starting this weekend”.

The Health Ministry recently advised that its National Surveillance Unit reported that Jamaica has surpassed the dengue epidemic threshold for July and August and is on a trajectory to do the same for the month of September. This means the country has seen an increase in the number of cases compared to what is normally seen during these months.

As at Friday, September 22, the country had recorded 565 suspected, presumed and confirmed cases of dengue. Of that number, 78 cases had been confirmed, with the majority of the cases seen in Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Catherine and St. Thomas.

 

CONTACT: GARFIELD L. ANGUS

 

NEWS YOU CAN USE

Posted on September 28, 2023September 28, 2023

 

Jamaica’s Homeless Programme

Below is a summary of some of the initiatives of the Homeless Programme:

1. PARISH COMMITTEES FOR THE HOMELESS:

Each parish is required to establish a Parish Committee for the Homeless. This committee seeks to ensure that appropriate actions are taken to improve the lives of the homeless within the parish. The committees usually include persons from health and social service agencies, service clubs, charities, faith-based, and community-based organizations, and government departments.

Objectives of the Committee include:

• To examine into the circumstance of Homelessness throughout the parish.
• To identify, plan, organize and develop programmes, projects, and regulations, and make recommendations for their implementation in relation to providing housing accommodation, funding programmes/projects and coordinating services.
• To raise awareness among stakeholders and the public to improve the care and protection of the Person Experiencing Homelessness in the parish.

To date, there is a parish committee for the homeless in 12 parishes, with plans underway to re-establish one in the outstanding parish.

2. CARE FACILITIES FOR THE HOMELESS (Operation, Construction & Funding).

 There are three types of care facilities for persons experiencing homelessness in Jamaica.

• Drop-In Centres (DIC)- These facilities cater to the needs of clients (meals, hygiene care and medical/mental health care) who are experiencing homelessness. They are opened during the day and close by about 5:00pm.  Clients can also walk in and access services.

All Drop-in Centres cater to both sexes.

• Night Shelters (NS): Provide a place for clients to rest at night. They also provide meals but are usually closed during the daytime until about 5:00pm. Clients walk in and register for the night. Most night shelters have a large male population.
• Transitional Facilities (TF): Assist clients to develop skills and coping mechanisms needed for them to be re-integrated into society. These facilities are 24 hours and clients are usually expected to stay for a period of six months to two years. Most transitional facilities have a large male population.

Since 2017, the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development (MLGCD) constructed six Drop-in Centres, with a seventh under construction. The MLGCD has also continued to support other facilities through subventions on an annual basis. There are also numerous other private facilities and initiatives that coordinate interventions for the homeless across Jamaica.  

  COMMEMORATIVE ACTIVITIES

In keeping with the theme, the Municipal Corporations (formerly Parish Councils) embarked on a sensitization programme to bring awareness to the abuse and senseless killing of persons experiencing homelessness. There are also coordinated activities with other government agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

These activities include, but not limited to, presentations in schools and clinics to sensitize the public on how to care for persons experiencing homelessness respectfully; presentations on violence prevention and counselling on stress management; distribution of brochures and hygiene kits for persons experiencing homelessness.

4. REHABILITATION & REINTEGRATION

 The BOS in partnership with the Poor Relief Departments and Transitional Facilities have placed a great emphasis on rehabilitation and reintegration of clients who are willing and able to do so.

Through these services, persons experiencing homelessness are engaged in skills training, assistance with daily living skills activities and housing assistance. For the period April 2022 to March 2023, there were 14 persons experiencing homelessness, who were rehabilitated and reintegrated into their communities.

The BOS continues to provide ongoing training to human service providers who engage the homeless. This empowers the staff to provide the needed interventions to this vulnerable group.

 POINT-IN-TIME SURVEYS

A Point-in-Time Survey (PITS) is a count of homeless persons in Jamaica, that is done at a stipulated period or a point in time. The last survey was conducted in 2017 between July 23-30, 2017. It was executed by all the Poor Relief Departments and supervised by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development through the Board of Supervision.

The PITS sought to garner information on the homeless population and contributing factors to homelessness. It found that there were some 1935 persons who were homeless – 1590 of whom were males. The data collected assists in programme designs and more appropriate service provision for persons who are homeless. To date, based on anecdotal information received through our feeding programmes and intervention with persons experiencing homelessness, we have noticed an increase in the homeless population.

A list of the facilities supported or operated by the Ministry/Municipal Corporations can be found below:

PARISH	FACILITIES	LOCATION	CONTACT
Kingston	Marie Atkins Night Shelter (MANS)	65 Hanover Street	876-922-6937-7
	Church Street Shelter (NS)	Church Street,Kingston	876-922-6937-7
	Open Arms Development Centre DIC & TF Desmond McKenzie Transitional Centre for the Homeless.  TF	16 ½ Windward Road 173 King Street	876-938-1757 876-9226936-7
St. Thomas	St Thomas Municipal Corporation DIC	Church Corner, Morant Bay	876-905-7917
Portland	Portland Rehabilitation Management Centre (DIC & TF)	Gideon Ave, Port Antonio	876-993-9166
St. Mary	The St Mary Municipal Corporation DIC	Hodgson Street, Port Maria	876-994-2900
St. Ann	St Ann Municipal Corporation DIC and Night Shelter	Buckfield, St. Ann	876-972-7171 876-972-0818
Trelawny	Trelawny Municipal Corporation DIC Trelawny Municipal Corporation Night Shelter	Victoria Street, Falmouth “	876-954-3970
St. James	Open Heart Charitable Mission (OHCM) St. James Care Centre ( DIC) & Refuge of Hope (Montego Bay home for the homeless- (TF)	2a Lawrence Lane, Montego Bay	876-971-9097
		Albion Road, Montego Bay	876-971-9097
Hanover	Hanover DIC	Miller’s Drive, Lucea	876-956-2958
Westmoreland	Westmoreland Association for Street People (WASP) (TF)	Dunbar’s River, Savanna-la-mar	876-955-2654
St. Elizabeth	St Elizabeth DIC	High Street, Black River	876-634-3701
Manchester	Ebenezer Home (TF)	Grey Ground District	876-853-0448
	Candle in The Dark (DIC, & TF)	10 Caledonia Rd	876-961-0167
Clarendon	Clarendon Drop-in Centre (DIC) and Night Shelter	East Street, Denbigh	876-986-9341
St. Catherine	Spanish Town Care Centre (DIC)	13 Monk Street	876-749-2132
	Linstead DIC (Under-Construction)	King Street, Linstead	876-749-2132

 

 

 

 

 

World Homeless Day to be observed on October 10

Posted on September 26, 2023April 29, 2025

KINGSTON, Jamaica: International World Homeless Day (WHD) will be observed on October 10.

The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development’s Board of Supervision (BOS), through its Poor Relief Departments, has planned several activities islandwide to mark the day.

These planned activities include open houses; information and sensitization sessions on homelessness; road marches, mini concerts; wellness fairs; and sporting events.

According to www.worldhomelessday.org, the purpose of WHD is to draw attention to the needs of people who experience homelessness locally and provide opportunities for the community to get involved in responding to homelessness.

It further states that while taking advantage of the stage “an international day provides to end homelessness through improved policy and funding”.

The inaugural WHD was marked on October 10, 2010. It has been observed in every continent except Antarctica in dozens of countries.

This observation locally is used to highlight the needs of persons experiencing homelessness and provide opportunities for the community members and stakeholders to get involved in responding to the needs of these individuals.

It is against this backdrop that the theme ‘Do Better, Let’s End Violence Against The Homeless’ was coined. Unfortunately, media reports indicate that some 13 homeless persons were killed between 2021 to 2023.

The BOS is empowered by the Poor Relief Act of April 29, 1886 to ensure that appropriate care and assistance is provided to indigent and poor persons islandwide. It was also given the mandate by virtue of the Commission of Inquiry Act July 15, 1999, to coordinate homelessness initiatives with a view to end chronic street homelessness in Jamaica.

A person is considered homeless if he/she, resides in a care facility for the homeless or in places not meant for human habitation such as cars, parks, sidewalks, and abandoned buildings.

As the oversight body for homelessness, the BOS is instrumental in organizing, monitoring, and providing direct services to persons experiencing homelessness. These services are provided through the Poor Relief Departments in all Municipal Corporations.

The homeless programme is active all year round in each parish with services ranging from a meal programme to having transitional housing geared at rehabilitation and reintegration for persons experiencing homelessness.

 

 PLEASE BOX:

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO ASSIST

• You may contact one of the following agencies on behalf of persons experiencing homelessness (Poor Relief Department, Registrar General Department, Legal Aid).
• Volunteer at a Drop-In Centre or Night Shelter
(Host a class to teach various lessons to include Hard & Soft skills).
• Provide job opportunities or refer persons experiencing homelessness to job opportunities
• Offer professional services for free, such as barbering, grooming, and legal advice
• Become an advocate for persons experiencing homelessness
• Treat them with compassion and kindness

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repairs for South, St. James roads

Posted on September 11, 2023

KINGSTON, Jamaica: The technical teams of the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development (MLGCD) and St. James Municipal Corporation are to pour over plans and provide an estimate for the repair of several roads in South St. James.

Portfolio Minister, Honourable Desmond McKenzie, gave the commitment for the rehabilitation of the roadways during a recent tour of the area.

“We are not going to be able to physically deal with all the roads at the same time, but we are committing a significant amount of funding from the Ministry through the Equalization Fund,” he said.

The Equalization (EQ) Fund is financed by ten percent of property tax collections islandwide. The EQ Fund is administered through the MLGCD and was created in 1997. A percentage of the fund is allocated to the Municipal Corporations to carry out critical infrastructure work in the various parochial divisions.

Minister McKenzie toured sections of Maldon, Flagstaff and Maroon Town parochial roadways in South St. James with Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister and Member of Parliament for South St. James, Honourable Homer Davis. They were also accompanied by Councillor Everes Coke as well as representatives from the MLGCD and the Municipal Corporation.

He also highlighted that while some sections of the road network in the area were well-constructed, a lack of maintenance contributed to the deterioration of some roads.

Minister Davis extended his appreciation to Minister McKenzie for his visit and also shared that the condition of the roadways could also be attributed to erosion over the years.

 

Local Gov’t Minister commits indigent houses for North Central Clarendon

Posted on September 11, 2023September 11, 2023

KINGSTON, Jamaica: The Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Honourable Desmond McKenzie, has committed three indigent houses to the constituency of North Central Clarendon.

The Minister gave the assurance following a recent tour of the area.

“One is ready for construction because they have the title and we are going to be moving expeditiously in putting down the housing solution,” he said during a post-tour interview.

Minister McKenzie commended the Clarendon Poor Relief Department for bringing the cases to the Ministry’s attention.

He was accompanied on the tour by Member of Parliament and Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with Responsibility for Information, Honourable Robert Morgan.

The Minister also announced that the construction of two additional water shops for the constituency which will increase the number of such facilities to three.

A 20,000-gollon water shop will be installed in the community of Garden Wood, while a 16,000-gallon facility is slated for Beckford Kraal.

The first water shop in North Cengtral Clarendon was commissioned dutring 2012 in the community of Pennants.

Minister McKenzie also disclosed that his Ministry will be allocating funds to the Clarendon Municipal Corporation to purchase another water truck to serve the parish.

The Ministry’s technical team will be working with the Municipal Corporation to formulate a plan to repair several badly-deteriorated roadways in the constituency.

He acknowledged work done by Minister Morgan to rehabilitate some of the roads, while highlighting others are “in need of attention.”

The Social Development Commission (SDC) has also tasked with conducting a survey in the constituency to ascertain what other issues require interventions

Fairfield, St. Elizabeth gets water shop

Posted on August 31, 2023August 29, 2023

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Honourable Desmond McKenzie, has commissioned a $12 million water shop into service at Fairfield District, St. Elizabeth.

“This is not the answer to the problems of bringing potable water to residents, especially in a parish like St. Elizabeth but truth be told, this is the most comprehensive approach to the water crisis that has ever been undertaken by any Government since 2016,” stated Minister Mr. McKenzie.

He noted that funds are to be provided for the procurement of a second water truck to help address the water crisis in sections of the parish. A unit was previously purchased for $15 million.

“We have also been providing funding, not just in St. Elizabeth, but for other municipalities that require money for the trucking of water.”

Some 1,000 residents in Fairfield and surrounding areas will benefit from the facility that will provide up to 16,000 gallons of potable water daily.

The water shop was opened on August 21 and is equipped with the technologies to filter and purify the drinking water.

The Fairfield Water Shop brings to four, the number of such facilities commissioned in St. Elizabeth. The others are in Retirement, Malvern built at a cost of $9.7m; an $11.9m one in Tryall District in Junction and Top Hill, Southfield, erected at a cost of $8.9m.

“I am proud to be part of an Administration that continues to remember those who need extra assistance, extra push, and St. Elizabeth is a parish that is important to the economic life of the country, because it is what is considered as the breadbasket,” the Minister added.

For Janique Witter, a resident of Fairfield, the water shop has brought relief to residents, eliminating the need to purchase water from supermarkets or rely on costly deliveries from water trucks.

“Now we don’t have to pay for water anymore for drinking purposes. Minister, thank you so much for this opportunity. I can get fresh water. I can come and fill my bottles and get my water,” she said.

Residents had to travel to a well in Cheapside to draw water or purchase the commodity at $2,000 a drum from water trucks.

New admin block opened at St. Elizabeth Infirmary

Posted on August 29, 2023

A new administrative building built at a cost of $20 million in partnership with the National Housing Trust (NHT) was opened at the St. Elizabeth Infirmary in Santa Cruz.

“I can see the smile on the faces of those of you who would occupy the building. I urge you to continue to be as efficient as you have been, and never lose sight of your contribution to the growth and development of Jamaica,” said Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Honourable Desmond McKenzie, during official opening ceremony on August 21.

The new administrative building boasts several staff offices, a conference room, customer service area and storerooms. Additionally, handrails, metal grills, closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras and air conditioning units have been installed.

A new walkway and pavement leading to the facility were also erected and extensive landscaping works undertaken – making the space highly-functional and visually-appealing.

The Minister commended the Infirmary staff and the St. Elizabeth Municipal Corporation for upholding the principles of decency and dignity in providing care for those who are under the protection of the State.

“This Government will never renege on its commitment in caring for those people (residents), regardless of the circumstances,” he said.

“We are presently reviewing our infirmaries to look at the ones that will be able to facilitate more social cases. We have done that already in about six parishes, and we are looking to further that engagement with the Ministry of Health and Wellness.”

The St. Elizabeth Infirmary adds to other projects completed in Manchester, St. James, Portland and Westmoreland under the partnership with the NHT.

New Matron at the St. Elizabeth Infirmary, Miss Bianca Mitchell, spoke of the appreciation of the staff and residents for the new infrastructure.

According to her, the new administrative building will provide a more comfortable environment and improved workspaces for staff to continue delivering the highest standard of assistance and support.

“A heartfelt word of appreciation goes out to my dedicated staff at the St. Elizabeth Infirmary. You work tirelessly behind the scenes for long hours. Your hard work, determination and attention to detail have ensured the smooth execution of this event. We look forward to future opportunities together to make a difference.”

Ministry allocates $20m to Poor Relief for back-to-school assistance

Posted on August 29, 2023

The Poor Relief Department will disburse $20 million in back-to-school assistance to students registered under its programme for the upcoming 2023/2024 academic year, which begins in September.

“We have a very vibrant education programme in poor relief,” said Honourable Desmond McKenzie, Minister of Local Government and Community Development.

The Minister made the announcement at the recent official opening ceremony for the Ocho Rios Night Shelter in St Ann.

He also highlighted that the Government is determined to provide a sustained educational programme within the poor relief framework, and that there was an urgent need for increased assistance following discussions with the Board of Supervision.

The Board of Supervision operates under the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development and was established to supervise and monitor the delivery of poor relief services through the Municipal Corporations.

To date, over 3500 students islandwide are registered under the Poor Relief Department.

Minister McKenzie stated that education is pivotal to success for persons reliant on poor relief support. and noted that there have been several success stories relating to poor-relief beneficiaries who have excelled academically.

He also shared the story of a young man from the constituency of Kingston Western who achieved his dream of becoming a medical doctor.

“This young man went to Wolmer’s and ended up with about 16 distinctions and he said he wanted to become a doctor. He has graduated from one of the most prestigious universities in the world, Drexel University, [and] he came out of poor relief.”

The Minister also disclosed that more than $150m has been allocated to councillors for back-to-school support, in a bid to ensure that needy students in their parochial divisions are provided with the require resources for the new school year.