Counting the Homeless – St. Catherine
Homelessness in Jamaica has become a chronic problem and the numbers are growing according to reports.
Acting on the directives of the Board of Supervision, (a statutory body operating under the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development), Poor Relief Departments across the country embarked on a National Count of the Homeless population. In July 2017 St. Catherine’s count was successfully carried out.
To ensure its smooth running, the parish was divided into four segments and the count was conducted within a two-day period, Thursday the 27th and Friday the 28th; this started at 5:00 a.m., and concluded at 10:00 a.m., on both days.
Old Harbour, Portmore and its environs was targeted on day one, and day two Linstead/Bog Walk, Spanish Town and environs, respectively.
Wednesday July 26th was used to count those persons within the hospitals.
Among the volunteers were teams from the Social Development Commission, Portmore Municipal Corporation, Red Cross, members of the St. Catherine Homeless Committee, Summer Workers and the Adventist Development Relief Agency (ADRA).
By the end of the count, evidently there has been an increase in the total number of Homeless persons within St. Catherine. In less than a year, the numbers grew from Seventy-Eight (78) to One Hundred and Sixty-Eight (168) persons – One Hundred and Thirty-Two (132) males and Thirty-Six (36) females.
Without a doubt, homelessness continues to be a plague in our country.
The management of the St. Catherine Municipal Corporation lauds the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development for the national attention this matter is being given. We believe it is a solvable problem and this Corporation stands resolute in support to alleviate or moreso end this plague in our country. We encourage all stakeholders within the parish to support us as we strive to transform the lives of the less fortunate among us.
The St. Catherine Homeless Committee meets the last Wednesday of every month in the Corporation’s Meeting room, Emancipation Square, Spanish Town at 2:00 p.m.
