We are intrigued by Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon’s Adopt-a-House initiative which is benefiting 25 people, post-Hurricane Melissa.

The beneficiaries include a blind, elderly man, Mr Frederick Jackson of Barrett Town, St James, who was homeless even before the storm.

“…I didnt live anywhere and mi use to sleep a bush…” Mr Jackson tells us in our latest Sunday edition.

Mayor Vernon’s programme falls within the embrace of the decades-old mayor’s charity fund — heavily dependent on private donations.

No doubt similar efforts have been established in other local authorities with some success.

It is useful to note, however, that the Adopt-a-House programme flowed directly from the need to support victims of Hurricane Melissa.

Furthermore, as we understand it, the initiative, described as a pilot phase which cost $3.5 million, was intended primarily to repair existing structures, not build from scratch. Limited resources was a major consideration.

That distinction is important since a photo of Mr Jackson’s newly-built, one-room house suggests that it would be incapable of withstanding anything even remotely resembling Hurricane Melissa.

And, lest we forget, the start of the upcoming Atlantic Hurricane season is less than three months away.

It appears that, in the case of Mr Jackson, who had no shelter and zero options, Mayor Vernon and his team had no choice but to do as they did, rudimentary though the house may seem to judgemental eyes.

The mayor says an assessment of his Adopt-a-House programme has been done to “identify the strengths and areas for improvement…” And he expects more support from private sources to “support families in need”.

It’s a project we believe is worthy of emulation by other local authorities, not only in the Melissa-ravaged west, but nationally, given the extent of poverty and homelessness.

We are well aware that mental illness causes some people to choose to live without a roof over their heads. But for many like Mr Jackson, who tells us he “started to look to God because he is the only refuge”, poverty and misfortune are at fault.

We can add to that the chronic inadequacy of State resources which leads to a long waiting list for crammed infirmaries, shelters, and so forth.

In western Jamaica the impact of Melissa on such facilities has made the situation far worse. Clearly, caring and/or able communities can make a big difference.

And, we dare say Mr Jackson may well have had happier times if his neighbours and/or relatives had been able (or wanted) to directly lend a helping hand.

He tells us that at one time he was rescued by “a lady”. However, according to him, “she come back and take away my passport and my age paper and run me from the house”.

Make of that what you will. What we can be certain of is that agencies of the State, be they at central government or local authority level, cannot on their own account for and support all those in need of care and protection. Community members, regardless of socio-economic status, should be looking out for others. We all should be our brothers/sisters’ keepers.

This newspaper has gone on record, repeatedly, in calling for leadership training and basic organisation to help communities deal with recurring challenges such as crime.

Homelessness, joblessness, wider poverty, and crippling ignorance are also issues with which communities that are properly structured and led are better able to deal.