CAMBRIDGE, St James — By tapping into architect Isiaa Madden’s network, Operation Shelter Jamaica (OSJ) has been able to import and install modular homes for Hurricane Melissa victims at a cost of US$2,700 (about $425,000) each.

“Some of my clients are Chinese and so I was very fortunate to partner with them to get us the container homes for that price,” she explained.

Madden, who is the lead organiser for OSJ, said 22 of the 50 homes purchased have already been installed. According to a breakdown contained in a progress report dated May 2026, the goal is to provide three homes in Hanover, 11 in St James, and 36 in Westmoreland.

Madden said they couldn’t have done it without sponsors who provided financial help and others who have contributed in other ways. She has drawn on her skills to make the 10 x 20-feet, hurricane-resistant, prefabricated, steel-framed aluminium units welcoming.

“As an architect I have done a design that basically provides a comfortable bathroom, one bedroom, a small living area, and a kitchenette,” she said.

The goal is to provide tiny homes to western Jamaica’s most vulnerable storm victims. This includes low-income families, elderly individuals, persons with disabilities, and single-parent households. Priority is being given to households with complete loss of shelter.

Madden explained what drives the work being done by OSJ.

“I suffered though this storm here with everybody else in the west, and it was traumatic for me, but I came out okay on the other side,” she said.

“Some people came out with not even a shirt left to their names, and to see this come to fruition right now, it leaves me feeling fulfilled and it makes me believe again in resilience, in humanity, in love, in peace — and I’m happy,” she added.

Madden said about 40 donors have come on board so far but highlighted Disney Foundation out of Los Angeles, the Stebell family out of Kingston, Supreme Ventures, Lennox Lewis League of Champions Foundation, Arc Hardware, and Sheffield Hardware as some of those that contributed.

Chief executive officer of the Roy and Patricia Disney Family Foundation, Shawn Escoffrey, a Jamaican, said he heard about the project from a college friend. It provided the roadmap he needed as he scrambled, in the aftermath of the storm, to figure out how he could help those in need.

“First it was like, ‘What should we do?’ Initially it was moving immediate aid, but now we got to figure out something a little more long term,” he explained.

“Knowing that there were so many people that lost their homes; so many people that lived in board houses, and even if they rebuild it would be tough to survive another hurricane, we wanted to figure out a solution,” Escoffrey added.

He explained that the foundation provided the first chunk of money, and then it jump-started a larger campaign that raised enough money to buy 50 of the houses.

On Friday, a team from OSJ delivered six units to grateful residents — two tiny homes in St James and four in Westmoreland.

In Cambridge, St James, Kesha Lewis could not hold back the tears as she expressed gratitude for the home she and her 10-year-old son Aiden will soon occupy.

“I’m overwhelmed but I’m giving thanks for who push out this for me to make this possible,” she said.

“I am happy, my son is very much happy. He’s not here, he’s gone to school, and I’m so sorry that he’s not here now,” she added.

Venice Cameron (left) opens the door to her modular home for the first time. Sharing her joy is Issia Madden (second left), lead organiser of Operation Shelter Jamaica which donated the units; CEO of the Roy and Patricia Disney Family Foundation, Shawn Escoffrey (second right); along with Member of Parliament for St James Southern Nickeisha Burchell.

Lewis explained that before the storm she lived at her cousins’ place but it was destroyed.

“The storm lift the top gone with it, then it went through [the house] and gone with everything: lift the beds, everything, I don’t have nothing. Even though I get the house here right now, I’m still struggling but I am giving thanks that I have a roof over my head,” she continued.

She is filled with trepidation at the thought of another storm during this year’s Atlantic hurricane season which began June 1 and runs until the end of November.

“If the storm comes and I am here, and the storm pass through and don’t do the house anything, I will give thanks,” she said.

Another recipient in St James, Pastor Venice Cameron from Bickersteth, was thrilled she would soon be a homeowner instead of a rent-paying tenant.

“It’s overwhelming. It brings peace of mind, it brings comfort, it brings joy, it brings everything,” Cameron stated.

During the handover, Member of Parliament for St James Southern Nikeisha Burchell expressed gratitude to OSJ for the help provided to her constituents.

“I’m just really excited and happy for these families who’ve been afforded the opportunity by Operation Shelter Jamaica to have modular homes constructed to help them brave the hurricane season,” she said.

“These people have lost everything to Hurricane Melissa, and Operation Shelter Jamaica coming together with all of their donors have really stepped up for these families and we are tremendously grateful,” she added.

However she also used the opportunity to take a swipe at the ruling party.

“The Government said that it costs them US$29 million to land 2,500 homes in Jamaica,” the MP noted.

“We need to look into that… I think they have a model that the Government needs to explore. It would appear that Operation Shelter Jamaica has been able to find a more economical pathway to getting families in homes,” Burchell added.

According to OSJ documents, they received US$138,907.76 in donations after the call went out that funds were being raised to build tiny homes.

“From this amount, US$134,000 has been disbursed and paid to Carib Viva Construction to cover the procurement, ordering, early logistics planning, and buildout preparation. Funds reserved are designated for site preparation, installation, interior build-out of the container homes, and associated project coordination. The payment for the initial 50 tiny homes was completed on December 8, 2025, with the official order placed the following day, December 9, 2025. Production and logistics proceeded as planned, and the units were shipped from China on December 30, 2025,” it said in a progress report dated January 2026.

“Next steps include shipping, site preparation, installation, and phased family placement for the initial 50 container homes. Additional funding will support transportation, interior build-out, utilities, and long-term sustainability measures to ensure each home is safe, functional, and durable. As implementation progresses, the programme will also explore ordering additional container homes to expand housing access and reach more families impacted by the hurricane,” the report added.

Writing on behalf of Madden and League of Champions Foundation Executive Director Violet Lewis, OSJ thanked those who made the project possible.

“We extend our sincere gratitude for donors and partners for answering the call so quickly and standing with us in a moment of urgent need. Your support transformed urgency into action. We remain committed to transparency and continued reporting as the programme progresses,” said OSJ.