Two families in Jones Town, Kingston received early Christmas gifts earlier this week in the form of homes courtesy of the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development’s Indigent Housing Programme.

Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie handed over the two fully furnished, two-bedroom houses to the residents of Benbow Street and Septimus Street on Monday.

“These units were built with care, compassion and understanding, and I want you to treat the units in a very special way,” McKenzie told the recipients at the handover ceremony.

Also in attendance were Kingston Mayor Andrew Swaby and Opposition Leader and St Andrew Southern Member of Parliament Mark Golding.

The Indigent Housing Programme was designed to address the housing difficulties faced by the poor and most vulnerable.

Applicants for the programme are screened through the Poor Relief departments, where an investigation and verification procedure are carried out to establish the need.

Potential beneficiaries must also demonstrate ownership of the property on which the house is to be built or provide documentation that they are lawfully entitled to tenure on such property.

The ministry has developed three types of solutions – studio units: one-bedroom units and two-bedroom family units.