National Homeless Survey to be conducted October 6-10

 

The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development through the Board of Supervision will conduct the third National Homeless Survey from October 6 to 10 across all parishes. 

 

The survey is a nationwide count of individuals experiencing homelessness and was last conducted in 2017. 

 

Data collection will be conducted in major towns and cities across Jamaica, with a focus on known hot spots identified by inspectors of poor in each parish. 

 

Treka Lewis, Secretary of the Board of Supervision, says the survey aims to generate critical data to inform future policies and services for individuals experiencing homelessness across Jamaica. 

 

"The survey is structured in such a way that it gives us more than just the number of persons who we will find living on the streets, who fit our definition of homelessness. It includes persons who are living in places not meant for human habitation, you know, bus parks, gullies, abandoned buildings, etc."

 

Ms. Lewis said the survey, which will be administered through a structured questionnaire, will gather information on demographics, health status, educational attainment, reasons for homelessness and access to government benefits among other key indicators. 

 

"We currently don't have a policy on homelessness and I do believe that sometime in the future the ministry will be looking at that. We will also from this survey be able to provide, you know, geospatial information on the location

of persons experiencing homelessness. So we can pick up the map and know that there's a concentration here, so maybe in this particular location there is need for maybe another night shelter," she noted.

 

The team from the Board of Supervision will be supported in the field by representatives from the Social Development Commission, mental health officers from the Ministry of Health and Wellness, and officers from the Jamaica Constabulary Force who will provide security and reassurance.