Several people who have become troubled by the dangerous realities associated with their state of homelessness were feted and made to feel loved and cared for on Thursday by the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC).

During a treat for the homeless at St William Grant Park in downtown Kingston the KSAMC, in partnership with entities, including the Hummingbird Charities, marked New Year’s Day by putting smiles on the faces of roughly 400 people who have no stable living situation and mostly spend their days and nights on the streets.

Among those who turned out to enjoy playing board games such a dominoes and ludo, as well as grab a hot meal, was 39-year-old Sherdan Carr who claimed he was forced to live on the streets after meeting a woman who robbed him and set him back.

Carr said he was happy for the opportunity to have some fun, despite his circumstances and appealed for help from the public.

“It’s been a long while since I got to play some dominoes. This is a pleasure now to be playing dominoes and interacting with others. On a regular day I wouldn’t have this format where I can sit down with colleagues and rap like this. I think something like this is good,” Carr told the Jamaica Observer.

He said he was doing all that he could to lead a positive life until he was dealt the raw deal by the woman who robbed him.

He explained that he attended Maud McLeod High School in Westmoreland, and after leaving school, he landed mostly jobs as a security guard, working with at least three companies over different periods.

“I met a lady who robbed me of some furniture that I credited from [a company]. That caused me a set back. I had to pay up the arrears and I found myself in a position where I didn’t have a stable job. That is what led me to be in this position. I have been on the street since about 2023 after that happened,” he said.

“I am trying to recuperate myself because I sell soap powder and certain other things. I have a stall across the road and I would really like some help so that I can stock it and build a livelihood for myself. I am trying to elevate myself but I would just need some more help. There are many more people in the crowd who are just like me who just need a helping hand to uplift them,” said Carr.

Seventy-five-year-old Teleta Allen’s story was much different from Carr’s.

She told the Observer that while she has somewhere to sleep she is not living the best life and was grateful to share in the New Year’s Day fun, games and food hosted by the KSAMC and its partners.

“I have a home but I really need some help to keep up. I feel good today because the vibes energetic and I am learning some new things. The hurricane didn’t treat me so bad. It’s just that the house was leaking,” said Allen in reference to Category 5 Hurricane Melissa which hit sections of Jamaica on October 28, 2025, but kept its fury far from the Corporate Area.

In the meantime, acting inspector of poor at the KSAMC Donna-Gaye Brady told the Observer that following the passage Melissa, there was a need for activities to help the homeless population ease their minds.

“On an annual basis we would fete and treat them but this year we decided we would change the scope a bit because of the impact of Hurricane Melissa. Melissa came and it was devastating and we have found that it has affected persons mentally. What better way to provide psychological support than through play?” Brady said.

“Today we are doing more of a fun day event with gaming. We are interacting with them and helping them feel that sense of love and belonging. The mayor of Kingston, Andrew Swaby, the other councillors, members of staff of the KSAMC and volunteers are playing dominoes, ludo, hoolah hoop, hop scotch, and various other games to lift their spirits and give them a sense of joy and hope as they ring in 2026,” Brady added.

Mayor Swaby pointed out that while Kingston was spared the brunt of the hurricane force winds and rain associated with Melissa, many people were impacted mentally and otherwise, including the homeless population.

“Even though it spared Kingston, emotionally we got a hit. You who are living on the road got an even worse hit than most persons in Kingston and St Andrew and we decided that we had to do something to let you relax. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. You needed a little time to forget about the worries and the troubles and just relax and enjoy yourself, drop a foot and play some games,” he said.

“I want to thank Hummingbird Charities on their second year partnering with us. Certainly it won’t stop at two. I have put in my application for next year already,” Swaby said as he commended Humming Bird Charities for providing meals and drink at Thursday’s event.

Acting inspector of poor at the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) Donna-Gaye Brady (left), and charity coordinator at Hummingbird Charities Shevel Turton (second left) distribute hot meals to homeless Jamaicans in Kingston during a special treat held for them on New Year’s Day at St William Grant Park in downtown Kingston.

Winston Reid (right) receives a meal on New Year’s Day from Mayor of Kingston Andrew Swaby during the annual treat held by the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) in St William Grant Park, downtown Kingston. Assisting in the distribution of meals is CEO of the KSAMC Robert Hill (second left)

Kingston Mayor Andrew Swaby (second right) enjoying a game of dominoes with (from left) Beverley Cargill, Cavan Gooden, and Esmerilda Graham during the annual New Year’s Day treat for the capital city’s homeless at St William Grant Park in downtown Kingston on New Year’s Day.

From left: Bridgette Donaldson; Jabez Walker, poor relief officer at the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC); Councillor Jacqueline Lewis (People’s National Party, Norman Gardens Division); and Andre Brown play a game of Ludo during the annual New Year’s Day treat for the city’s homeless population staged by the KSAMC in St William Grant Park, downtown Kingston. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

While others enjoyed games and other fun activities during the New Year’s Day treat for the homeless in downtown, Kingston, this man was more interested in making jottings on this notepad.