KINGSTON, Jamaica—There were 2,442 street people in Jamaica in 2025, spread across all 14 parishes.

The number was arrived at following a national homelessness survey conducted by the Board of Supervision (BOS) (for the relief of the poor in Jamaica) in collaboration with the Social Development Commission.

A breakdown of the number shows that there were 1,903 males and 539 females facing homelessness across the island last year. For 2024 the unofficial count for street people was 2,168 combined.

The information is contained in the Economic and Social Survey Jamaica (ESSJ), the 2025 edition. The ESSJ is an annual publication of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ). The 2025 homelessness survey revealed that 48.5 per cent of homeless people were located in Kingston and St Andrew.

PIOJ noted that the Homelessness or Street-people Programme of the BOS provided a range of support and services to its clients in collaboration with its non-government partners, utilising a care approach with increased focus on rehabilitation and empowerment while addressing shelter and other basic needs.

The budgetary allocation of $101.6 million for the Homelessness Programme was divided among the 13 local authorities with shelters or meal programmes. Some 453,889 meals and over 2,700 care packages were distributed to homeless people during the period under review. The Portland Municipal Corporation opened its Drop-in Centre and Night Shelter in July 2025.
Said PIOJ,“The 24-hour facility is designed to provide comprehensive care for the homeless, including meals, beds for 28 individuals, medical services, and bathing facilities”.

Additionally, phase 2 of the Desmond McKenzie Transitional Centre for the Homeless in downtown Kingston was completed, with the capacity to host 50 individuals living on the street, providing them with shelter and a rehabilitative environment. The St Thomas Drop-in Centre was expanded to facilitate a night shelter component.

PIOJ said six parishes reported rehabilitation and reintegration of nine homeless persons. Rehabilitation projects included small-plot farming, art and craft activities, bee keeping, reading and soft skills training. Through the Open Arms Drop-in Centre in Kingston, 13 homeless clients were employed full-time, others were reintegrated into their communities or participated in rehabilitative activities including sewing, and art and craft projects.

The Ebenezer Home in Manchester enhanced its occupational therapy programme through a farming project for client rehabilitation, which included animal rearing and small crop farming.

PIOJ said the National Committee for the Homeless and the parish committees continued to deliberate on issues and objectives for the management of the homelessness programme. It noted that World Homeless Day was observed on October 10 under the theme “Bridging Gaps in Homelessness: Connecting Persons to Services and Community through Data Collection”.

“The observance of World Homeless Day— aimed to improve awareness and encourage greater support for people in need—served as an important platform for engaging the community, fostering partnerships, and advocating for resources to effectively address the complex issues surrounding homelessness,” PIOJ said.

Other public education and awareness efforts around homelessness included sensitisation sessions with stakeholder groups in schools and communities and ongoing brochure distribution. The annual Day of Care Health Fair, and Christmas treats were held in Hanover, Clarendon, St James, St Ann, St Catherine, Kingston and St Andrew, St Mary, and St Thomas.

PIOJ said addressing the demand for housing repairs, and the provision of houses equipped with essential amenities and water harvesting remained the prerogative of the Indigent Housing Programme.