KINGSTON, Jamaica – A new set of contributors to the National Housing Trust (NHT) have now been added to the rank of home ownership. The newly-minted mortgagors received their keys during a handing over ceremony led by Prime Minister Andrew Holness, of 32 housing units at Majesty Gardens, Phase 1A, on August 24, 2022.

Three of the units have been allocated to the New Social Housing Programme, an initiative from the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation to improve the living conditions for the country’s most vulnerable.

Holness, in his keynote address, expressed his elation regarding the affordability of the units.

He said that 28 of the 29 beneficiaries earned between minimum wage to 30,000 per week while only one beneficiary fell within the $30,000 to 42,000 weekly income range.

“I’m very happy because this is the group that we need to focus on and target in our society, in keeping with my administration’s push for the NHT to provide housing solutions to the lowest income group.”

He added that the price of the units were significantly subsidised, with the subsidy ranging from $1.7 million dollars to $1.9 million dollars per unit as a measure to increase affordability.

Echoing the sentiments of the Prime Minister, Member of Parliament for St Andrew South Western, Dr Angela Brown-Burke, in her spirited address, applauded the affordability of the units as well as the organisation’s sterling community engagement and attentiveness through its Social Development unit over the years.

Dr Brown-Burke advised that the community would soon be renamed in tribute to national hero, Marcus Garvey.

Corporal Rohan James, NHT board director, representing NHT board Chairman, Lennox Channer, advised that, “the keys we are handing over today will not only unlock the doors to each home. They will unlock an important transition from contributor to mortgagor, as well as a wide range of life-changing opportunities. These houses are not just a space for our contributors to reside, they are safety, comfort, legacy and peace of mind. Our goal at the NHT, has always been and will continue to be that our contributors and their families have the opportunity to lead decent, satisfying and rewarding lives, especially our contributors in the affordable housing market.”

In an emotional expression of gratitude, new homeowner, Caulette Johnson, thanked the NHT for giving her and fellow beneficiaries the opportunity to own a home.

“Imagine 32 units and one is mine. Every Jamaican’s dream is to own a home to call their own; to feel a sense of pride and self-worth,” said Johnson.

Majesty Gardens, Phase 1A, which is comprised of 32 duplex housing units; 24 studios, four one-bedrooms and two two-storey three-bedroom units were developed under the NHT’s Community Renewal Programme (CRP). The CRP, which is underpinned by the tenets of Vision 2030, is an outgrowth of the NHT’s Inner-City Housing Project.

Within Kingston and St Andrew, the NHT says it has slated an additional 13 developments for completion within the next four years. Some of these include: Metcalfe Street, Maxfield Park, White Wing and Bay Farm Road.