TRELAWNY, Jamaica – Mayor of Falmouth, Councillor C Junior Gager, has revealed that the state-of-the-art homeless shelter being constructed in Falmouth, at a cost of $25 million, is near completion.

In fact, Gager, who is also chairman of the Trelawny Municipal Corporation (TMC), disclosed that the municipal corporation is considering the opening of the facility in October this year.

Local Government and Rural Development Minister, Desmond McKenzie, broke ground for the construction of the homeless shelter in Falmouth, Trelawny, on July 8, 2021.

“The building is far advanced. It is near completion. I spoke to contractor on Tuesday and he gave an assurance that it would be ready soon. We are trying to fix a date in October for the opening,” Gager told OBSERVER ONLINE.

The shelter is the first of its kind outside the Corporate Area and will provide temporary shelter, meals, and bathroom amenities for the approximately 25 homeless people in the parish.

During the groundbreaking ceremony McKenzie announced that an additional eight homeless shelters will be built across the island.

There are more than 3,000 homeless people in the island.