MoBay mayor pushes Adopt-A-House plan to rebuild 500 homes
Published:Wednesday | February 18, 2026 | 12:05 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon has announced plans to rebuild some 500 homes damaged by Hurricane Melissa across St James, declaring that the municipality must act decisively to restore stability to hundreds of displaced families.
Speaking at last Friday’s launch of the Mayor’s Charity Fund Adopt-a-House Programme, Vernon said eight homes have already been completed under the pilot phase.
The initiative is being undertaken in partnership with US-based Community Dreams Foundation and the Rotary Club of Montego Bay, which will provide construction materials to approved beneficiaries. Homeowners are expected to mobilise community support to cover labour costs.
“If we can cover the materials for you, and you cover the labour, then we can go a far way. We can serve a larger cross section of our municipality,” said Vernon, in outlining his vision for the plan.
The programme was conceptualised in response to the widespread destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa last October, which left many families without proper shelter.
International support has already begun to materialise. The Rotary Club of Montego Bay has pledged assistance, while Bethlehem Global in Texas made the first financial commitment. Vernon singled out donors from Texas who contributed to the pilot phase.
“They left the meeting feeling convinced that they should support this initiative, and we decided to do the pilot,” he said.
The pilot, which assisted six households, revealed operational challenges, including material shortages and labour-related issues. The households include two for members of the Society for Persons Living with Disabilities.
“We found several glitches with the execution of the programme, which we intend to fix so that we can have a seamless flow,” said Vernon. “The intention of the Adopt-a-House Programme is to meet you, I would say, a little bit more than halfway, to help you to pull up yourself fully.
“You’re not going to get a cheque twice. You’re not going to get material twice. Now is not the time to be selfish. Now is the time to be selfless,” said Vernon, emphasising that the project will be steeped in transparency and credibility.
Through a dedicated website, donors locally and abroad will be able to select specific homes to adopt and monitor progress in real time.
Deon Richardson, chief executive officer of the Community Dreams Foundation, said the programme stood out because of its inclusive and technology-driven structure.
“In our first conversation with the mayor, he talked about the adopt-a-home programme, and that project kind of spoke to me,” Richardson said. “I had seen other projects that didn’t work, but this model allows donors and organisations across the world to get involved in bringing Jamaica back.”
Richardson further disclosed that the foundation is establishing an office in Montego Bay to support operations and improve accessibility for applicants.
“As you come into the site, one of the things you will notice is the ability to get access to the information you need as fast as you possibly can,” he said, noting that residents will be able to enrol their homes using mobile devices without being hindered by complex registration requirements.
“As you donate, these persons benefit, and you will be able to watch in real time how persons are benefiting, how their lives are being transformed, and how all their dreams are being rebuilt,” he said.
Robert Blake of the Society for Persons with Disability welcomed the initiative, noting that several persons living with disabilities remain displaced months after the hurricane.
“Whatever way we can all come together, let’s build back Montego Bay bigger, better and stronger,” he said.