URBAN AND RURAL SHELTER IMPROVEMENT

investors against default on housing loans made to the Jamaican Mortgage Bank (JMB). JMB will use the loan funds to assist the Government of Jamaica and private sector participants to develop a planning and financial framework to provide shelter and related facilities for low-income families in Jamaica. The project will be implemented with the help of U.S. A.I.D. technical assistance, by the Ministry of Local Government (MOLG), the Ministry of Housing (MOH), and the Jamaican Credit Union League (JCUL) and will consist of tenement upgrading, squatter settlements, and rural home improvements. Tenement upgrading activities will be directed by MOGL in 20 cities and will benefit 106,500 people. Approximately 21,300 home improvement loans will be issued to facilitate repairs to foundations, walls, etc., and sanitary and kitchen facilities will be upgraded or, if necessary, installed. Repairs and clean up activities will be conducted to improve the safety of tenement yard areas. Buildings found to be structurally unsound will be demolished and rebuilt using the yard concept of shared facilities. A total of 20 community centers and 2,664 new dwellings will be constructed. Local resources will be employed whenever possible. MOH will direct squatter settlement improvement activities which will affect 18,750 people in Montego Bay, Kingston, and Old Harbour. Legal recognition (land tenure) will be arranged with selected squatter settlements under the provision of 49-year leases. Balance lot schemes will be developed for the physical arrangement of residence. Also, utilities and services such as water supply, roads, sewerage, and electricity will be installed within plotted areas. The JCUL will provide 7,000 home improvement loans to upgrade the rural shelter conditions of small farmers. Participants must reside in areas having populations of under 2,500 or must earn at least 50% of household income from farming.