Jamaica- The Caribbean – An Evaluation of the Low-Income Housing Sector

The following thesis addresses the need for low income housing in Jamaica with the purpose of evaluating the existing circumstances that influence the growth or decline of the low income housing industry. The focus is on identifying solutions that fuel growth. Research on the current state of low income housing in Jamaica and the programs that have been established to aid in the development of such housing, was carried out in the United States and in Jamaica. One of the most overwhelming problems the world faces in the 21st Century is poverty. The negative consequences of world poverty have a devastating affect on all facets of society, in third world countries as well as industrialized nations. With half of the earth’s population living in poverty, there are common challenges faced by both the developed and developing worlds alike. One of those challenges is defining the policies, systems, and financing that will provide housing to the poor, affordably. Most Industrialized nations have very developed programs that address the issues of affordable housing, and these programs are usually supported by various public and private institutions. Although less developed countries attempt to employ similar programs, the challenges of social, economical, and political influences have a more limiting affect on the progress of providing affordable housing. There is currently a very strong global push to reduce the ill effects of poverty and homelessness, as we now experience the earth’s combined human population of 6.5 billion, nearly 3 billion live in poverty. As the world population continues to grow, it can be speculated that without drastic measures to increase the standard of living of those that are poverty stricken, the trend will be that the number of people affected by poverty will also grow (based on Malthus Theory). This research paper will examine efforts to reduce the homelessness at the lower income levels in society on the island of Jamaica. In providing for the poor around the world, terms such as low-income housing and affordable housing have been used to describe efforts to reduce the number of people living in inadequate shelters. The definition of poverty varies, but it is usually related to a level of income in a society. According to the World Bank Organization, poverty can be defined as the minimum income level in a society, usually defined by the poverty line”. Although it can be argued that there are many contributors to poverty around the world, it certainly is not solely caused by a lack of total resources.