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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