KINGSTON, Jamaica — Kingston Mayor Andrew Swaby has acknowledged a rise in the city’s homeless population, which he said is putting additional financial pressure on shelters and support services.

Speaking to Observer Online, Swaby said the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) is working to coordinate efforts among individuals and groups who provide food for the homeless. He explained that the goal is to streamline food distribution and encourage feeding at designated locations such as the Poor Relief office at 65 Hanover Street.

“There are days when multiple groups are feeding them, and other days when no one does. We want to ensure that we can have them fed every day,” Swaby said. He added that centralising meal distribution would also help maintain cleanliness in the city by providing proper garbage disposal areas.

In addition to food, the initiative aims to offer other essential services, including clothing distribution and access to bathing facilities.

Swaby confirmed that homelessness in Kingston is increasing but noted that the exact factors driving the trend remain unclear. “We are seeing an increase in numbers. We cannot speak to the factors yet,” he said, while divulging that surveys will be conducted soon to assess the extent of the issue.

He also acknowledged that some individuals who access homeless shelters may not be entirely without housing, but rather travel into the city for food and other support. “Some of these persons leave their house just to come and get some food. So it’s a financial strain on us, but we have to take care of our vulnerable population,” said the mayor.

When asked whether migration from other parishes was contributing to the issue, Swaby said he could not confirm the origins of those seeking assistance. However, he indicated that upcoming surveys would provide more insight into the movement patterns of Kingston’s homeless population.