Resilient, affordable housing critical for Jamaica’s future development, stakeholders say

As Jamaica faces increasing vulnerability to more intense climate-related hazards due to climate change and poor planning, development stakeholders are warning of an urgent need to bolster the country’s housing stock to withstand extreme weather and promote socioeconomic stability.

Delivering the key remarks at the Jamaica Developers Association (JDA) real estate webinar on October 31, Dr Wayne Henry, director-general of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), said as efforts intensify to ensure there can be adequate housing to meet demand, the resilience of the solutions must also be in focus. He said although the Housing Quality Index is relatively good, currently standing at 78 per cent, there are pockets of substandard housing across the country, including many located in unplanned communities.

“Many of these are among the over 700 communities classified as vulnerable by the ODPEM [Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management]. In addition, the Housing Policy identifies the existence of a severe housing shortage, indicating the need for replacement of obsolete stock and a demand-supply gap that requires the production of at least 15,000 units annually,” he shared.

Henry said resilience must go beyond housing’s ability to withstand storms and other weather phenomena. He recommended scaling up green building practices and incorporating seismic and climate-responsive designs, to help create homes that are sustainable and resource-efficient.

“Envision developments with permeable surfaces to reduce flooding and green roofs or walls that naturally cool homes, reducing reliance on air conditioning. These eco-smart designs create self-sufficiency and enhance comfort. Building seismic resilient housing must take consideration of the use of appropriate construction materials, technology, techniques and standards,” he stressed.

Henry also called for the strengthening of urban zoning policies, greater enforcement of the Building Code and standards, as well as more economic and social safety nets to support families financially.

IMPROVING RESILIENCE

“We could explore programmes to widen access to subsidies, grants, and low-interest loans for the purchase of resilient housing and/or to effect upgrades to existing units to improve resilience. Access to home insurance is another critical part of resilience,” he said.

“Resilient housing is not just about construction; it is about empowerment, community strength, and economic stability. The private sector has a significant role to play in this, by among other things, providing resilient homes on the market at affordable prices,” he added.

Building on those comments, Courtney Wynter, general manager of the Jamaica Mortgage Bank, suggested that alongside the conventional block-and-steel construction, containerised homes are worth exploring, as they offer a resilient and affordable housing solution for low-income families.

“I know there are individuals who are saying containerised homes are really for individual purposes but [it can be a] similar [situation] to what is being done in other jurisdictions where trailer homes were built, or parks where they can park were developed, [with] the infrastructure in place [to support them],” he said.

Wynter, a presenter at the webinar, also emphasised that the provision of low-income housing solutions can be a powerful driver of economic growth over time.

Another of the webinar participants, Earl Samuels, the chief development financing officer and assistant general manager at the JN Group, added that with housing being a major stabiliser in society, every effort should be made to ensure “housing is affordable even at the lowest income level”.

He noted there are various strategies that can also help reduce development costs, including extending the time frame for cost write-offs and the provision of additional government incentives and subsidies.

“Infrastructure is a significant cost in any development. Those costs could be written off over a longer period. For example, they could be recovered in taxes, included as part of the property tax so that the owner or the purchaser of those units would pay for those services over time instead of those services being included in the upfront cost of the units,” he shared.

The JDA real estate webinar was held under the theme: ‘Resilient Housing Strategies in National Development’. The online event, sponsored by the JN Group, featured several expert legal and real estate professionals from the private and public sectors.