Kingston mayor continues push to rehabilitate, reintegrate the homeless
Published:Monday | January 5, 2026 | 12:07 AMLester Hinds/Gleaner Writer
As Kingston Mayor Andrew Swaby continues his push to rehabilitate and reintegrate the city’s homeless population, some 200 people were on New Year’s Day fêted at St William Grant Park.
Individuals came from all sections of downtown Kingston to attend the feeding programme for which the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) and Hummingbird Charity joined forces for the second time.
In the meantime, Swaby indicated that 10 homeless persons, coming out of Hurricane Melissa, sought and were granted shelter in the municipality shelters.
“Not only did they express an interest to stay at Church Street, but have gone to the Denham Town Home and the Vineyard Town Golden Age Home,” he said.
He noted that these were persons who were actually on the streets, but when they came into the city’s shelters, they liked the accommodations, felt safe and decided to stay.
Swaby said the homeless committee set up to assist people in need of shelter has been working to reduce the level of homelessness.
“We are looking at how we can reintegrate them back into society. Maybe there is someone who was a tailor or a dressmaker and has that skill still, and [we will see] how we can get a machine for them and get them into a state where they can do things for themselves,” he said.
He said that the committee is also looking at ways to attract members of the community to patronise them, once those enterprises are established.
Swaby noted that a few months ago, he and Minister of Local Government Desmond McKenzie toured the Hanover Street facility and saw where the building can accommodate more persons upstairs.
“We have been working on that and right now we are having discussions; and the homeless survey may have an influence how we deal with that situation,” he said.
Regarding the Hanover Street building, the mayor said he has had discussions with McKenzie, who has committed funds that will allow for the hosting of more persons.
Swaby said that for 2026, efforts will be made to reduce the homeless population around the court building on King Street.
“The judicial committee has reached out to us on how we can make that area look a little better,” he said.
HOMELESSNESS IN JAMAICA
The previous homelessness survey was done in 2017 and found that, at the time, some 1,938 individuals reportedly experienced homelessness across Jamaica.
The latest survey was conducted from October 6-10 across all parishes by the Ministry of Local Government, through the board of supervision, and aims to generate critical data to inform future policies and services for individuals experiencing homelessness across the country.
McKenzie has made an impassioned plea for the homeless to work with the authorities and vacate areas such as Justice Square, and also urged the homeless to make good use of the multiple meals provided at the drop-in centres each day and avoid meals not fit for consumption.
He further indicated that homeless persons reject and improperly dispose of food given to them by strangers 90 per cent of the time.
Swaby said that for the better part of a year, the municipality has communicated that persons seeking to help with feeding the homeless should contact the KSAMC to ensure that the food being shared is fit for consumption.
“We actually camp out at Ward Theatre or Justice Square on Sundays, just to encourage them to make contact with us, and they consistently don’t make contact with us. Persons who probably have a dance and have leftover mannish water and it gets sour ... they carry it and come give it to the persons; those are the persons who we are talking about,” Swaby said.