Homeownership continues to be an elusive dream for many Jamaicans. In fact, many have resigned themselves to a lifetime of renting. Others have chosen to migrate to countries where homeownership is more attainable because of systems designed to support it while some have turned to the risky option of squatting in the hope of eventually acquiring land through adverse possession.

Against the backdrop of this housing crisis, successive governments have continued to raid the National Housing Trust (NHT), and there appears to be no end in sight. The Senate has approved the Government's continued withdrawal of $11.4 billion annually from the NHT for the next five fiscal years!

Let us be clear: the NHT was established with a specific mandate — to make homeownership more accessible and affordable for Jamaicans. Yet time and again, funds contributed by workers for housing purposes have been diverted to meet other government priorities.