Jamaica

Context at a glance

A shack in Salt Marsh, Jamaica

One of the major problems facing a large proportion of Jamaica's 2.6 million people, particularly low-income households, is lack of land – and as a result the prohibitive cost of acquiring land. This is a common issue in most developing countries in the region.

There is a huge problem of squatting on government and private land in both urban and rural areas. Illegal occupation is particularly rife in overcrowded inner cities, where people build temporary and permanent structures without proper waste disposal or clean running water.

In other cases, even where families have occupied lands for several generations, they hold no proper ownership titles. This presents a threat to security and wealth creation, as well as reducing the number of houses being constructed.

By the year 2010, Jamaica's population is expected to increase and housing demands will therefore become more acute. HFH Jamaica has a vision to work with all the relevant government agencies to acquire land, and plans to continue working towards lower cost housing while increasing the rate of construction.

Habitat for Humanity programme

Habitat for Humanity was started in Jamaica by a group of local business and professional leaders in 1992. The first Habitat house was completed in Highgate, St. Mary.

Today, Habitat houses stand in one urban and several rural communities. Houses have one or two bedrooms, with an indoor kitchen, bathroom, clean running water and electricity. Habitat houses are built with concrete blocks and steel posts and panels and the Royale Building System, which uses prefabricated concrete technology.

Since Jamaica is subject to hurricanes, earthquakes and flooding in low-lying areas, Habitat houses are designed to meet the rigid specifications laid down by government agencies.

Homeowners repay their loans over 10 to 12 years and their monthly payments go into a revolving fund, which offers other families a chance at homeownership.

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