It’s no secret that Local Government Minister Mr Desmond McKenzie has had a long-standing commitment to the poorest among us — not least the homeless and people living in infirmaries.

No surprise, then, that the minister reportedly came close to tears at last Friday’s opening of a transitional centre for the homeless on King Street in downtown Kingston named in his honour.

“This is what we need to do to respond to the plight of [the homeless]… many of whom have contributed to the growth and development of Jamaica,” Mr McKenzie said.

We are told that the Desmond McKenzie Transitional Centre for the Homeless, costing $140 million and able to accommodate 40 people, was first envisioned by Mr McKenzie in 2008 when he was mayor of Kingston. It is said to be the first of its kind in Jamaica.

Praise for Mr McKenzie’s role came not just from his political allies such as Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Mayor of Kingston Mr Delroy Williams but from across the political divide.

Indeed, minority leader of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation Councillor Andrew Swaby (People’s National Party, Vineyard Town Division) applauded the naming of the shelter in Mr McKenzie’s honour.

Hailing Mr McKenzie’s “personal passion” in ensuring the eventual establishment of the transitional shelter, Mr Holness also described the facility as “yet another tangible statement of what this Government is doing to help the poor and vulnerable …”

Yet, we believe, Jamaicans should be disappointed that despite Mr McKenzie’s commitment and passion it took successive governments 13 years, since it was first visualised, to get the facility on King Street — formerly a dental office — up and running.

Mr Holness is reported as saying that the King Street shelter will serve as an example of excellence, offering specific services that are more broad-ranged than other care facilities for the poor and vulnerable, such as drop-in centres and infirmaries.

“…users will not only have access to regular services, such as shower facilities, bedding, change of clothes and meals, but will be provided with other critical services such as psychiatric care, counselling, rehabilitation, occupational therapy, social reintegration and full medical treatment, which seek to address a more transformative and holistic form of care…,” Mr Holness said.

The trouble is that in the context of Jamaica’s ‘street people’ problem, the King Street facility is merely a start.

We are told that there are about 2,000 homeless people roaming the streets of Jamaican cities, towns and villages. It’s well established that a significant number are mentally ill. But many people are living on the streets for economic and other reasons. Some have been turned away by relatives.

‘Good Samaritans’ running drop-in -centres and the like, have tried to help — providing meals, a shower, change of clothes, etc.

But they, like others who have gone even further by attempting to provide shelters, soon find that even with the help of donations, the cost is prohibitive and trained staff are hard to find and unaffordable.

The situation cries out for Government and private sector to come together in a planned, structured way to deal with this problem of homelessness once and for all. It’s difficult, but we believe where there’s a will there’s always a way.