Gov't, Food for the Poor in housing partnership

Thursday, August 23, 2012

THE Government is partnering with Food for the Poor to provide 9,000 houses over the next five years for low-income earners across the island. 

A contract for construction of the first 1,200 wooden houses and 600 concrete units was signed Tuesday at the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing's head offices in Kingston.

A file photo of a wooden house constructed by Food for the Poor.

Partners in the housing agreement between the Government of Jamaica and Food For The Poor (FFP) sign documents finalising the partnership on Tuesday at the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing, Maxfield Avenue in Kingston. The signatories are (from left) Minister of Finance and Planning Dr Peter Phillips; Minister of Transport, Works and Housing Dr Omar Davies; FFP Chairman Andrew Mahfood; and FFP Vice- Chairman Chris Bicknell. Witnessing the signing are (from left - standing) are Luther Buchanan, minister of state, Office of the Prime Minister; Candace Rochester of the Attorney General’s Chambers; Richard Azan, minister of state, Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing; Lucille Brodber, project director, Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme; Sharon Weber, managing director, Petro Caribe Development Fund; and Audrey Sewell, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing.

Portfolio Minister Dr Omar Davies said the houses will be built under the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP), with management from the Housing Agency of Jamaica (HAJ).

Work is expected to get underway in another two weeks and continue over a 12-month period.

Davies said that the Government's contribution to the project will be funded through a $500-million grant from the Petro Caribe Development Fund.

Construction of the wooden dwellings will cost approximately US$6,400 per unit, with the Government providing US$3,200 for each unit and Food for the Poor matching the amount. Erection of the concrete structures is projected to cost approximately US$9,500 each.

Under the agreement, Food for the Poor will work with the HAJ to construct the 600 concrete units, which will be sold on the open market by the National Housing Trust, using its priority index system for the selection of beneficiaries.

The 1,200 wooden houses will be built by Food for the Poor and will be distributed islandwide free of cost. Beneficiaries will be drawn from the organisation's existing list of applicants as well as from persons recommended by members of Parliament, councillors, churches, and community groups.

The houses will be built on lands provided by government or those owned or accessed by the beneficiaries.

Davies pointed out that under the agreement Food for the Poor will transfer the technology for constructing the special concrete units to government agencies so that "we should be able to significantly increase the number of such units".

Food for the Poor Chairman Andrew Mahfood said the charity organisation was delighted to partner with the Government to deliver "thousands of shelter needs to poor and low-income households, who are always at a financial disadvantage in acquiring their own home".

He noted that thousands of Jamaicans were not privileged to own a home and this hampers individual productivity and contributes to the dissolution of the family.

Mahfood said this latest partnership was, therefore, a step in the right direction in providing assistance to Jamaicans in need.

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Gov-t--Food-for-the-Poor-in-housing-partnership_12331356#ixzz24OHJGpx7

The Signing of the Housing Agreement with the Government

Andrew Mahfood (at microphone), Chairman, Food For The Poor (FFP), addresses participants in the Signing Ceremony for a Housing Agreement between FFP and the government, for the construction of two categories of affordable housing solutions for the poor and low income earners on Tuesday, August 21 at the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing, Maxfield Avenue, Kingston. Sharing in the occasion are (from left) Jacqueline Johnson, Senior Consultant, FFP; Chris Bicknell, Vice Chairman, FFP, and Cecile Watson, Managing Director, National Housing Trust. Under the Agreement, FFP will construct 1,200 wooden houses per annum. The houses will be distributed islandwide free of cost to citizens who are living below the poverty line. The beneficiaries will be drawn from FFP’s existing list of applicants, as well as from persons recommended by the churches, community groups and political representatives. Food For The Poor will also construct 600 concrete units, which will be sold by the National Housing Trust using its priority index system for the selection of beneficiaries. The primary target group for this category of housing is persons earning minimum wage.

Audrey Sewell (at microphone), Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing welcome participants to the Signing Ceremony on Tuesday, August 21, between Food For The Poor and the government, for the construction of two categories of affordable housing solutions islandwide for the poor and low income earners. Among those sharing in the occasion are: Richard Azan (partially hidden- sitting next to Audrey Sewell) State Minister in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing; (from left-at adjoining table) Ron Burgess, Senior Director – Recipient Services, FFP; Jacqueline Johnson, Senior Consultant, FFP; Andrew Mahfood, Chairman, FFP, Chris Bicknell, Vice Chairman, FFP and Cecile Watson, Managing Director, National Housing Trust. The partnership will see FFP constructing 1,200 wooden houses per year. The houses will be distributed islandwide free of cost to citizens who are living below the poverty line. The beneficiaries will be drawn from FFP’s existing list of applicants, as well as from persons recommended by the churches, community groups and political representatives. Food For The Poor will also be constructing 600 concrete units, which will be sold  by the National Housing Trust to persons earning minimum wage.

The Food For the Poor (FFP) team listens attentively to Minister of Transport, Works and Housing Dr. Omar Davies during the Signing Ceremony on Tuesday, August 21, between the charity and the government, for the construction of two categories of affordable housing solutions islandwide for the poor and low-income earners. (From left) Ron Burgess, Senior Director – Recipient Services; Jacqueline Johnson, Senior Consultant; Andrew Mahfood, Chairman, and Chris Bicknell, Vice Chairman. Also sharing in the occasion is Cecile Watson, Managing Director, National Housing Trust.

Partners in the Housing Agreement between the government of Jamaica and Food For The Poor (FFP) sign documents finalizing the partnership on Tuesday, August 21 at the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing, Maxfield Avenue, Kingston. The signatories are (from left): Dr. Peter Phillips, Minister of Finance and Planning; Dr. Omar Davies, Minister of Transport, Works and Housing; Andrew Mahfood, Chairman, FFP and Chris Bicknell, Vice Chairman, FFP.  Witnessing the signing are(from left-standing): Luther Buchanan, Minister of State, Office of the Prime Minister; Candace Rochester of the Attorney General’s Chambers; Richard Azan, Minister of State, Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing; Lucille Brodber, Project Director, Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme ; Sharon Weber, Managing Director, Petro Caribe Development Fund and Audrey Sewell, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing. Under the Agreement, FFP will construct 1,200 wooden houses per year. The houses will be distributed islandwide free of cost to citizens who are living below the poverty line. The beneficiaries will be drawn from FFP’s existing list of applicants, as well as from persons recommended by the churches, community groups and political representatives. Food For The Poor will also construct 600 concrete units, which will be sold by the National Housing Trust to persons earning minimum wage.

(From right) Andrew Mahfood, Chairman, Food For The Poor (FFP), Dr. Omar Davies, Minister of Transport, Works and Housing; and Dr. Peter Phillips, Minister of Finance and Planning; participate in the Signing Ceremony between FFP and the government on Tuesday, August 21, for the construction of two categories of affordable housing solutions islandwide for the poor and low income earners. Witnessing the signing of the agreement contracts are (from right): Lucille Brodber, Project Director, Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme; Richard Azan, Minister of State, Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing; Candace Rochester and Catherine Williams both of the Attorney General’s Chambers. The partnership will see FFP constructing 1,200 wooden houses per year. The houses will be distributed islandwide free of cost to citizens who are living below the poverty line. The beneficiaries will be drawn from FFP’s existing list of applicants, as well as from persons recommended by the churches, community groups and political representatives. Food For The Poor will also be constructing 600 concrete units, which will be sold by the National Housing Trust to persons earning minimum wage.

Low Income Houses Coming (collaboration between government & Food For The Poor):

TVJ, Prime Time News, Newstory, Tuesday, August 21, 2012, 7pm: Low Income Houses Coming (collaboration between government & Food For The Poor):

http://www.televisionjamaica.com/Programmes/PrimeTimeNews.aspx/Videos/20285

Food For The Poor Constructs New Home For Care Centre in St. Elizabeth

OFFICIAL OPENING OF SANTA CRUZ CARE CENTRE

The Hon. Noel Arscot (centre), Minister of Local Government and Community Development; Sheldon Howell, Project Officer at Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica and Marcia Mullings-Barrett, Regional Mental Health Officer for the Southern Region prepare to cut the ribbon to signal the official opening of the Santa Cruz Care Centre in St. Elizabeth.

CARE CENTRE RECEIVES LOCAL GOVERNMENT MINISTRY SUPPORT

The Hon. Noel Arscot, Minister of Local Government and Community Development, addresses the official opening ceremony of the Santa Cruz Care Centre in St. Elizabeth, recently. During the opening ceremony, Minister Arscot pledged J$100,000.00 to assist with the immediate needs of the Centre.

Food For The Poor Constructs New Home For Care Centre

in St. Elizabeth

Spanish Town, St. Catherine (August 9, 2012) – Food For The Poor-Jamaica (FFP-Jamaica) has enhanced services provided for the mentally ill and homeless residents of St. Elizabeth by constructing a new facility for the Santa Cruz Care Centre. This health-care initiative is a collaborative effort with the St. Elizabeth Care Committee, a charity that caters to the needs of street people. The Centre was previously located in a cramped area of the Santa Cruz Health Centre. Thanks to FFP-Jamaica the homeless now have access to a new, spacious and well-equipped facility.

The Santa Cruz Care Centre includes a spacious dining area, an office, a fully equipped kitchen and modern bathroom facilities with shower enclosures for both males and females. The Centre offers hot meals, change of clothing, sanitation facilities, necessary medications and general health care to the homeless and mentally ill.

At the recent official opening ceremony, the Hon. Noel Arscot, Minister of Local Government and Community Development, commended FFP-Jamaica for this timely and necessary initiative. “We have to work together to adequately care for those who find themselves in unfortunate circumstances.  Through this project, Food For The Poor and the St. Elizabeth Care Committee have demonstrated their willingness to serve others and this is quite commendable.  I am sure that the mandate of this Centre, which is to care for the needs of our less fortunate brothers and sisters, will be enhanced as a result of this initiative.”

During his presentation, Minister Arscot also pledged monetary support to assist with the immediate needs of the Centre and stated “the Care Centre will stand as a beacon of hope and rescue for street people in St. Elizabeth.”

The Santa Cruz Care Centre will be managed by the St. Elizabeth Care Committee, who have served the homeless for the past six years. Their mission is to provide a better quality of life for street people. According to Beryl Rochester, Chairman of the Committee, prior to FFP-Jamaica’s donation, their mission was being hampered due to limited space, lack of proper sanitary conveniences and inadequate kitchen facilities.

“We used to operate from a small area that the Health Centre permitted us to use. However, this was posing a serious challenge especially as it related to space. We realized that we had to do something about the situation so we adopted a collaborative approach,” Mrs. Rochester said.  “Today, that approach is paying off. This new structure will aid in the restoration of conversational skills, self-respect, dignity and self-support for the recipients. That’s the impact and that’s our reward.”

(More)

Approximately 65 mentally ill and homeless persons will benefit from the project.  Previously, healthcare service was offered to the beneficiaries once a week; but this is expected to increase with the operation of the new Centre.

Sheldon Howell, Project Officer at FFP-Jamaica, said that FFP remains committed to the overall development of our less fortunate brothers and sisters across the island.  Therefore, “we are proud to have partnered with the St. Elizabeth Care Committee to provide a better quality of life for the recipients. We built a four-unit structure to eliminate the space issue.  In addition to the upgraded bathroom facilities, we ensured that the kitchen area had proper storage cupboards, a stove and a refrigerator as this was not previously in place. This facility will surely make life much easier for the Committee.”

Mr. Howell explained that Food For The Poor is concerned with the holistic development of people. “In this regard, our goal is to improve the health, economic, social and spiritual conditions of the persons we serve through emergency relief aid and programmes in the areas of housing, food, health care, water, sanitation, education, agriculture, outreach and micro-enterprise.”

The Ministry of Health also supported the initiative, as pointed out by Dr. M Irons-Morgan, Director of Mental Health.  She said “When interventions are done early, they cost less.  This intervention will aid in the assessment, treatment, rehabilitation and re-integration of the beneficiaries.  Lives will be rescued and persons will be empowered to live productive lives.”

Among the other invitees at the opening ceremony were: Mr. Raymond Pryce, Member of Parliament for Eastern St. Elizabeth; His Worship the Mayor Councillor Everton Fisher, Mayor of Black River; and Mr. Stallin Brown, Councillor for the Santa Cruz Division.

Contacts:

Petri-Ann Henry | Public Relations Officer:  (876) 564-2886 | petri-annh@foodforthepoorja.org

Public Relations Dept. (876) 907-3664

Erica James-King|Communication Manager | PROComm l  (876) 564-5277 or (876) 926-6740 |Erica.James-King@procomm.com.jm