Peter Philips and Andrew Holness spoke of housing in budget speeches and usually they mean to own a house. Our trading partners do not have 100 per cent homeownership and, if we are to live like them, rental housing must be a priority.

Peeps say politicians don’t like rental housing as it lowers the profit of friends who sell and upstage their election mantra, “Vote for me for I will build houses and you will own one!” Here, rent-house is a term of derision; thanks to politics, as many even postpone a baby to save a downpayment, but it is truly the hope for our nation as even feral man sought a cave for his family first.

The English knew its value, so after millions of 17- to 19-year-old men fell in war their families and survivors got housing; the Council house rental system was born, which our UK Diaspora now enjoy. A home heals; love blooms, kids grow poor but confident; and Britain prospered. When every kid has a front door, dignity and productivity will grow. To own a house is a straw man set up by politicians, yet only by a third; and most family life grows in a rent-house. No child asks who owns or rents as he just needs nurture and stability to grow well.

We set a high bar in homeownership, but to get similar results we need to invest in mass rental housing to build family life and values.

Housing is crucial to development. It is not welfare. First, it is an ancient space of education; godliness; and art of war for defence, culture and health. At a macroeconomic level, housing stock (owned or rented) is a big part of a nation’s equity and infrastructure.

The USA, UK and Canada have homeownership of 60 per cent plus. Germany, a rich, innovative, social democratic State, hovers around 50 per cent. Russia inherited Soviet housing stock so it, ex-Communist and a managed democracy as Singapore are at 90 per cent plus — your freedom for house? Our 2008 statistics say we had an annual deficit of 15,000 houses, but the last People’s National Party Cabinet built few. Andrew Holness says he did some 4,000 last year — highest ever — and says 20,000 by the end of his term. His promise falls short by 40,000. The last stats we saw had housing stock at 450,000 (Note: Many people own three to seven houses); but with decay, change of use, some sterilised by foreign purchase — do the math! The house poor get poorer! Selah.

The National Housing Trust (NHT) builds for members. Who builds for the 150,000 unemployed, 400, 000 on Programme for Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH); thousands on Hope River bank; or the other 699 squatter settlements? Until Cabinet policy gives equal priority to rent-house; until we root out apartheid in housing (low, indigent, middle income), family life, prosperity, and peace will elude us.

Holness gave a good shout: “Let’s find new ways to build houses.” (Jamaica Observer, June 11, 2017). Sir, we trawled the world for years and tolerate “board house”, but we prefer concrete and steel. Let’s build for sale, most for rent and be inclusive, or the poor will never rise.

Thou shall own a house is not a commandment. It is a lie from the pit of hell spawned by politics. All decent housing make decent families. The most authentic period of our history is post-1838 when free men had their way. They did not seek revenge but went to the hills and built their heart’s desire… family life! House, crops, free villages were outward signs of that inward grace. Much was lost in translation, so bread, education, and houses, like tropes, is what men with no spiritual sight say it means.

Cabinet’s one size fits all “buy a house” mantra cramps family life and growth. Not to be self-referential, but Dad’s priority was our education, as he could not manage to both save a downpayment and pay school fees, so he swallowed houseowner pride until his last son was at Wolmer’s.

Peeps say many who tried to save or build and rent suffered; bright kids did poorly at school, no memorable holidays, years in half-finished rooms, bathroom with a basin pan, makeshift kitchen and kids ‘own room and bathroom’ in ashes. The kids left for college and the dream house was not done. Young families, students, the poor, grey market, workers need decent rental housing and it’s doable if Cabinet incentivises investors and assists minimum wage or PATH families. Good housing makes a family and a nation great! Selah.

Come, the housing revolution! The State must not be landlord; not even indigent housing. Set the private sector free and regulate well. We need an agency to promote investment in and broker rental housing; manage landlord, tenant affairs; and build a vibrant housing market. We need to roll the best of the Rent Restriction Act, Rent Board, and related laws into one; create a modern supply chain; allow many housing firms on the junior market; uplift housing economics; engage pension funds; then give us data.

House sales peak as wages decline, yet intermediaries hold their margins, foreign buyers snap up devaluation deals and lock out locals. We must boost house supply and do research: Should foreigners pay a premium for houses which cramp first-time home buyers? Can a dual property market with a protected track for locals work? Should a second-home buyer pay a cess? Change of use reduces housing stock (see Richmond Park, Kencot)and pushes up prices, so buyers and tenants suffer. Our Cabinets and the NHT created a perfect storm of buy-a-house frenzy they can’t satisfy, and most folks can’t afford what they sell.

Holness, Sir, what house can $6,200 minimum wage buy? Friend, you will never own a house, so demand a good supply of fair-priced, decent rental housing if only for your kid’s good upbringing. Stay conscious!

Franklin Johnston, D Phil (Oxon), is a strategist and project manager; fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK); and lectures in logistics and supply chain management at the Mona School of Business and Management at The University of the West Indies. Send comments to the Observer or franklinjohnstontoo@gmail.com.