Gov’t to Use Container Homes in Rapid Rebuild After Hurricane Melissa

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Government is turning to pre-built containerised modular homes to rapidly replace housing lost to Hurricane Melissa, with the National Housing Trust (NHT) set to purchase 5,000 units in the first phase.

Some of the container homes will be sold to individuals, while others will form part of new housing schemes and the social housing programme. Officials say the strategy aims to provide swift, scalable housing solutions for the thousands of Jamaicans still displaced by the storm.

Shipping and deployment are expected to take time, with containers arriving between 30 and 90 days, meaning homes will not be ready for Christmas. Priority will be given to the worst-affected families, while temporary fixes — such as shelter repair kits and heavy-duty tarpaulins — will continue in the interim.

The Government is also planning rebuilding grants, though amounts are pending completion of housing assessments. Officials expect clearer figures once approximately 30,000 homes have been evaluated to determine the scale of minor, moderate, and severe damage.

The move signals a new approach to disaster recovery in Jamaica, combining rapid deployment with long-term housing strategies to help communities recover from the Category 5 storm that ravaged the island.