Comprehensive housing solutions needed

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I am writing with reference to the article by Christopher Burgess, ‘Rebuilding housing in western Jamaica’. It reminded us that resilient solutions must, not only be appropriate for our reality, but must be quick and comprehensive, addressing titling, self-construction and scheme development.

The article pointed out that one of the international benchmarks for shelter, is that affected persons should be transferred to “temporary transitional housing within three months”. What should that accommodation look like, where would it be located, and who is to fund it? To relieve suffering and to hit the three-month target, what if we do the following:

– Develop “robust timber roof” mentioned in the article, as a shelter kit that is distributed immediately after the relief phase to all who are without roofs

– Issue vouchers which can be redeemed at hardware stores. Voucher value should include transportation.

– Train in affected communities on the proper construction of the roofs to secure the standard of installation required. As an incentive, give a toolkit to participants.

– To those who completely lost their dwellings, construct wooden structures.

An interim action plan that allows for a quick response to relieve suffering and security concerns shouldn’t be conflated with land-tenure regularisation, long-term funding and reconstruction models.

BRODERICK BOWES