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GOV’T COMMITTED TO STRENGTHENING SERVICES FOR THE HOMELESS – MINISTER MCKENZIE

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KINGSTON, October 13 (JIS):

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, has affirmed the Government’s commitment to strengthening rehabilitation and mental health initiatives across the poor relief system to improve the care and well-being of homeless persons.

He was addressing a Wellness in the Park event to mark World Homeless Day at St. William Grant Park in downtown Kingston on Friday (October 10).

The event, hosted by the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Wellness, provided homeless individuals with a hot meal, grooming and medical checks, as well as care packages and other services.

Minister McKenzie commended the municipal corporations and other stakeholders across the island that undertook similar events in recognition of World Homeless Day.

He highlighted steps being taken by the Government to improve support for the homeless.

He noted that the Poor Relief Department recently conducted an islandwide survey of the homeless population, the findings of which will play a critical role in shaping policy to better respond to their needs.

“This survey will give us an opportunity, when it is done, to plan adequately to meet the demands of the homeless population here in Jamaica,” he said.

He implored the young people in attendance to uphold good values and avoid negative influences that may lead to homelessness and social instability.

“I want to urge you, students, don’t follow [bad] company…[adopt] the values that would make you better men and women,” Minister McKenzie advised.

“You are the future of Jamaica, and your contribution to help to eradicate problems that we face is critical as we go into the future,” he added.

MINISTER MCKENZIE PLEDGES UPGRADES TO CLARENDON DROP-IN CENTRE

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Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, has pledged to address concerns at the Clarendon Drop-in Centre to ensure that the facility adequately meets the needs of the parish’s homeless population.

He gave this undertaking while delivering remarks during the Clarendon Municipal Corporation’s observance of World Homeless Day on October 10, at the Old Police Station grounds in May Pen, Clarendon.

Mr. McKenzie shared that, in discussions with employees of the Corporation, he was apprised of “concerns about the drop-in centre here in Clarendon, and the fact that the facilities are not fully functional to meet the needs”.

He noted, for instance, that individuals with mental health challenges, though treated, often return to the streets due to the absence of adequate overnight accommodation.

            “I gave a commitment that whatever steps have to be taken to ensure that we activate the facility for persons who want to sleep overnight, that we put the necessary things in place to get it done,” the Minister assured.

Meanwhile, Mr. McKenzie reiterated the Government’s commitment to addressing mental health concerns among the homeless.

            “We are carrying out training on a daily basis to equip the workers in our infirmaries, in our drop-in facilities, training them in a way that they are able to respond to the challenges that exist,” he indicated.

            Mr. McKenzie further noted that the Local Government Ministry continues to implement measures to address mental health challenges across all its facilities.

“We in local government, in the last year, have trained some 38 psychiatric nursing aides that are deployed right across Jamaica in every infirmary and golden age home, to work to assist those who have that level of problems,” he stated.

Minister McKenzie advised that in the new fiscal year, government will train 38 additional psychiatric nursing aides.

“Once they are trained, we’ll be putting them in the system to strengthen the team that we have,” he added.

World Homeless Day was observed under the theme ‘Bridging Gaps in Homelessness: Connecting Persons to Services and Community through Data Collection’.

Clarendon Municipal Corporation Treats Homeless on World Homeless Day

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Homeless persons in Clarendon were treated to meals, care packages, health screenings and other social services by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, in collaboration with the Clarendon Municipal Corporation, in observance of World Homeless Day.

World Homeless Day (October 10) was observed in Jamaica under the theme ‘Bridging Gaps in Homelessness: Connecting Persons to Services and Community through Data Collection’.

The Clarendon Municipal Corporation’s World Homeless Day Awareness activities included the provision of services from agencies such as the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ), the Office of the Registrar General under the National Identification Registration Authority (ORG-NIRA) and the Southern Regional Health Authority (SRHA).

Attendees at the event, held at the Old Police Station grounds in May Pen, Clarendon, received assistance with signing up for important documents such as taxpayer registration numbers (TRNs) and birth certificates under the Operation Birthright programme.

They also accessed critical health services such as blood pressure and sugar checks, HIV tests, height and weight checks, among others.

In remarks delivered during a brief ceremony, Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie reiterated the Government’s commitment to protecting members of the homeless population and delivering essential services to them.

“That is why we are undertaking the [National Homeless] Survey that started this week with the SDC (Social Development Commission), working with the Municipal Corporations and the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders, to identify where our homeless population is, what the numbers are, what their needs are, in order for us, as a caring government, to respond to the plight of the homeless population,” Mr. McKenzie affirmed.

He urged Jamaicans to help the Government to improve the circumstances of homeless individuals by contributing in whatever way they can.

“As we observe this day, let it not be just for today alone. Let us put on the agenda on a daily basis the problems of the homeless and those who are mentally challenged in Jamaica,” the Minister encouraged.

The World Homeless Day Awareness event was also attended by Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., who donated items including food packages and a mobility walker to the Poor Relief Department from the Ministry.

Mr. Charles Jr. emphasised the importance of collaboration across ministries, communities and agencies for the betterment of the nation.

“Today is an example of partnership across ministries, connecting to parish council, connecting to academia and connecting to community,” he stated.

DISASTER COORDINATORS URGED TO MAINTAIN HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS WITH PARTNER AGENCIES

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Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, has urged the island’s disaster coordinators to maintain healthy relationships with partner entities to strengthen the island’s disaster response mechanism.

The Minister gave the charge while speaking at a recent meeting of parish disaster coordinators, representatives of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and officers of the Hazard Mitigation and Risk Management Unit of the Ministry.

Mr. McKenzie stressed that parish disaster coordinators are essential to the work of municipal corporations.

He explained that “whatever initiative is undertaken by municipal corporations, there has to be an input from the disaster coordinators”.

“Based on the knowledge that you should have of areas in various communities where flooding occurs, areas where whenever it rains, there is impact on communities, you should be a part of those discussions from the outset,” the Minister said.

He explained that disaster coordinators should also develop working relationships with agencies such as the Fire Brigade, “so that they are involved in daily operations”.

Mr. McKenzie also called on the coordinators to ensure that the various disaster committees that they are required to facilitate are up and running.

Meanwhile, the Minister reminded the parish disaster coordinators that their role requires them to be active all year round.

“We have to move to a stage where the disaster coordinators become more active during the year, and not just part-time,” he said.

Pointing out that the Hurricane Season is now half-way complete, the Minister also reminded them of their responsibility to ensure that shelters are in good condition and ready to host citizens if needed.

In his remarks, State Minister, Hon. Delroy Williams, emphasised the importance of proper coordination between agencies involved in disaster response.

“We can’t respond effectively without coordinating our efforts with other agencies… other agencies also play critical roles during a disaster,” Mr. Williams stated.

He urged the relevant stakeholders to continue working on their coordination to ensure maximum effectiveness during and after a disaster.

BOARD OF SUPERVISION URGES COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS

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The Board of Supervision (BOS) is urging citizens to demonstrate greater compassion and active support for individuals experiencing homelessness.

The call comes as the BOS, through the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, prepares to undertake the National Homeless Survey in October.

The Survey will serve as a national count of individuals experiencing homelessness, generating critical data to inform policy development and guide targeted intervention strategies.

Secretary at the Board, Treka Lewis, told JIS News that being homeless does not define an individual and, as such, it is important to see the humanity in every person affected by homelessness.

“Someone experiencing homelessness is, just at the moment, experiencing homelessness; it is not their definition… it is not who they are. It is just a stage in life that they have reached, based on varying circumstances… it can happen to anyone. So I’m imploring all of us to remember the humanity and the human beings that you will see when you pass someone just lying on the ground,” she said.

Ms. Lewis further encouraged Jamaicans to engage meaningfully with individuals experiencing homelessness and offer support wherever possible.

“Volunteer at our facilities, at our drop-in centres, our night shelters, our transitional facilities, as well as provide financial support if you can, provide employment, provide training,” she said, adding that persons may also choose to come in and help these vulnerable individuals regain their soft skills.

Ms. Lewis noted that the last National Homeless Survey, conducted in 2017, identified 1,938 individuals experiencing homelessness across Jamaica.

She indicated that, since then, anecdotal reports from Poor Relief Departments within Municipal Corporations suggest that the number has risen to approximately 2,400.

“We want to ascertain the real truth on the ground; a survey will give us the real numbers,” Ms. Lewis said.

Data collection for the 2025 National Homeless Survey will commence on October 6 across all parishes, culminating on World Homeless Day, October 10.

SDC HOSTS ST THOMAS’ FIRST ECONOMIC VILLAGE

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On Friday September 26, Small and micro entrepreneurs convened in front of the St Thomas Social Development Commission’s office to market their Goods and Services at the SDC’s Economic Village, which is geared towards promoting local businesses by providing a space for them to earn and grow. The event, which is the first of its kind to be held in the parish of St Thomas gave entrepreneurs and artisans the opportunity to showcase their products — from hand crafted jewelry, natural juices and infused oils to dried herbs and many more.

Mrs. Lorian Peart-Roberts, Parish Manager of the Social Development Commission in St Thomas said, “Many [of the businesses] don’t have a shop front and so this is our avenue to have them come out and showcase what they have”

“We are hoping that once the Urban Center gets going, we can host this every quarter, the last Friday, right after pay day”, she continued.

She also used the opportunity to invite other local entrepreneurs to go to the Social Development Commission’s website and sign up to participate in the Economic Village. Peart-Roberts said that the SDC provides workshops for entrepreneurs to help them to position themselves in the economic market better by providing training in different industry areas.

The Economic Village, which falls under the Local Economic Development Support Programme (LEDSP), provides a space for local micro and small businesses to sell products, network, and build their capacities. While this showing was the first for the parish of St Thomas, the Economic Village has been active in other parishes across Jamaica giving newcomers and growing businesses a well needed boost for their businesses.

THIRD NATIONAL HOMELESS SURVEY SLATED FOR OCTOBER 6-10

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JIS:

The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, through the Board of Supervision, will conduct the third National Homeless Survey from October 6 to 10 across all parishes.

The survey is a nationwide count of individuals experiencing homelessness, and was last conducted in 2017.

Data collection will be conducted in major towns and cities across Jamaica, with a focus on known ‘hotspots’ identified by Inspectors of Poor in each parish.

Secretary of the Board of Supervision, Treka Lewis, told JIS News that the survey aims to generate critical data to inform future policies and services for individuals experiencing homelessness across Jamaica.

“The survey is structured in such a way that it gives us more than just the number of persons who we will find living on the streets [and] who fit our definition of homelessness,” she said.

Ms. Lewis noted that individuals classified as homeless are those residing in spaces not intended for human habitation, such as bus parks, gullies, abandoned buildings, and similar locations.

She further informed that the survey, which will be administered through a structured questionnaire, will gather information on demographics, health status, educational attainment, reasons for homelessness, and access to government benefits, among other key indicators.

“We will also, from this survey, be able to provide geospatial information on the location of persons experiencing homelessness. So we can pick up the map and know that there is a concentration in a particular location and there is need for, maybe, another night shelter, or we [can] look somewhere else in another parish outside of the capital and we see that there’s probably a growing number here and we may need a drop-in centre,” Ms. Lewis stated.

She indicated that the survey will be conducted during early morning hours, prior to the daily dispersal of individuals.

“On the day, we ask for cooperation, we ask that persons are not scared or frightened because they see a team of persons advancing towards them. Our aim is only to collect information and the information that we collect will be treated confidentially,” Ms. Lewis urged.

She further shared that the Kobo Toolbox—a software platform enabling real-time data collection and analysis—will be used to administer the survey, which is expected to take approximately 7 to 10 minutes to complete.

The team from the Board of Supervision, which is spearheading the initiative, will be supported in the field by representatives from the Social Development Commission (SDC), Mental Health Officers from the Ministry of Health and Wellness, and officers from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), who will provide security and reassurance.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT MINISTRY ASSESSING AREAS IN KINGSTON AND ST. ANDREW IMPACTED BY FRIDAY’S FLOOD RAINS

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JIS:

The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development is assessing areas affected by Friday’s (September 19) heavy rains, which caused severe flooding across the Corporate Area.

Portfolio Minister, the Hon. Desmond McKenzie, said the exercise “is to see what can be done and how we are going to get it done.”

He said that the assessment is important as the island will continue to face unpredictable weather events during the hurricane season.

The Minister was speaking at a special sitting of the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) to install newly elected councillors, at the Corporation’s downtown Kingston offices on Monday (September 22).

Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Andrew Swaby, in his remarks, said that the KSAMC will be ramping up its drain cleaning programme to mitigate flooding.

“We acknowledge that the KSAMC, as the local authority, must play its role in the overall cleaning and maintenance of drains and gullies and will strive to do so in a more timely manner,” he said.

Mr. Swaby informed that Friday’s heavy rains caused widespread flooding and damage which affected homes, businesses and the road network across Kingston and St. Andrew.

He noted that a team from the KSAMC, comprised of councillors, the city engineer, the disaster coordinator, and the Chief Executive Officer visited some of the impacted areas on Saturday (September 20).

“Residents lost furniture, appliances, and peace of mind,” he lamented.

The Mayor noted the impact of climate change in intensifying rainfall and flooding.

“While we acknowledge that weather conditions are an act of God and outside of our control, the belief that global warming has contributed to the changing weather pattern forces us to be more vigilant,” he said.

Career Milestone for Newly Appointed State Minister, Hon. Delroy Williams

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Newly-elected Member of Parliament for Clarendon Central, Hon. Delroy Williams, has been appointed State Minister in the Ministry of Local and Rural Development.

This appointment marks a pivotal advancement in Mr. Williams’ public service career, which includes prior roles as Mayor of Kingston and Senator in the Upper House of Parliament.

In response, he expressed both gratitude and humility, reaffirming his commitment to national service

“I’m humbled by it. I’m honoured. It’s a good feeling to know that the Most Honourable Prime Minister would have considered me as a part of the Executive and as part of leading this country into the future,” Mr. Williams told JIS News following his swearing-in on Friday, September 19, at King’s House.

He noted that his vision aligns closely with that of Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, and expressed strong support for the strategic direction in which the country is progressing.

“I personally believe that Jamaica is on the right path. I’m honoured to be supporting the Cabinet Ministers — in this particular case, Minister [of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, who has a wealth of experience and continues to serve this country with distinction,” he shared.

With years of experience in municipal leadership, Mr. Williams believes his eight-year tenure as Mayor of Kingston has equipped him with the experience and insight necessary for his new ministerial role.

“I would have gone through the various issues and policy processes at the local government level. So, I believe that experience has positioned me to serve effectively in this new capacity,” he declares.

Mr. Williams indicated that he is eager to engage Minister McKenzie on several priority areas and seek his guidance, to determine how best he can contribute to the Ministry’s strategic objectives.

He also acknowledged his recent election to Parliament and expressed confidence in his ability to effectively balance legislative responsibilities with his new executive role.

“I enjoy representation. I love interacting with residents and being a part of community life. I don’t foresee a problem balancing both roles. I think one will complement the other,” Mr. Williams shared.

CONTACT: JUDANA MURPHY, JIS