Jamaican teen innovates AI to help locals find affordable homes

A 17-YEAR-OLD Jamaican innovator, Meron McPherson, is making waves with her groundbreaking initiative aimed at tackling Jamaica’s housing challenges. Recognising the struggles many Jamaicans face in finding affordable and suitable homes, McPherson created ‘HomeFinderAI’, an AI-powered platform designed to streamline the search process.

HomeFinderAI leverages artificial intelligence to analyse users’ preferences, such as budget, location, and family size, while factoring in commute times, proximity to schools or workplaces, and community safety. The tool is designed to provide personalised housing recommen-dations, making the often daunting process of house-hunting more accessible and efficient for Jamaicans.

Inspired by the lack of accessible housing options in her own community, McPherson wanted to create a solution that could make a tangible impact. “This isn’t just about finding houses,” she explains. “It’s about connecting people to homes where they can build their lives.”

Her project is also geared at supporting community development. A feature of HomeFinderAI matches users with government programmes or NGOs offering subsidies for first-time homeowners as well as connecting landlords with tenants in a transparent and efficient way.

McPherson’s initiative has already gained attention for its innovative approach and potential to transform Jamaica’s housing market. She hopes to expand the platform to include more advanced features such as real-time market updates and a resource hub for financial literacy around homeownership.

McPherson’s story is a powerful reminder of how technology and youthful determination can be harnessed to address pressing societal issues.