Container homes proposed as quick fix for hurricane homelessness

WESTERN BUREAU:

Architectural designer and construction project manager Curtis Hylton believes that it is time for Jamaica to embrace a housing model once dismissed as “unconventional” - retrofitted container homes - as a practical solution for families left homeless by Hurricane Melissa.

Hylton, who leads the St James Chapter of the Small Business Association of Jamaica (SBAJ), says the devastation across western Jamaica has exposed the limits of traditional rebuilding methods, which could take months, if not years, to restore normalcy for thousands.

“When I toured Westmoreland after the devastation, it was clear the traditional block-and-steel method will take years to rebuild. Retrofitted containers are the best quick-fix long-term option,” Hylton told The Gleaner.

Hurricane Melissa made landfall near New Hope, Westmoreland, as a Category 5 storm with winds nearing 185mph, the strongest on record to hit Jamaica.

Across western parishes such as Westmoreland, St Elizabeth, and Hanover, entire communities have been flattened, with some areas reporting up to 90 per cent of homes either destroyed or roofless.

Some roads remain impassable under millions of ton of debris, power lines hanging dangerously low, and many schools, clinics, and churches remaining unusable. Farmers lost greenhouses and livestock, fishers lost boats, and entire villages along the coast remain cut off from potable water and shelter.

“People are living in schools, community centres, tents, and in homes with no roofs, situations that were meant to last days but will likely stretch into months,” Hylton observed.

“Families need privacy, dignity, and safety. Container homes can deliver that within a week.”

FABRICATED HOMES

According to Hylton, the prefabricated units are already available locally in one-bedroom, studio, two-, and three-bedroom options. They come equipped with bathrooms, electrical wiring, windows, doors, and can be fitted with air conditioning and septic tanks developed by the Jamaica’s Scientific Research Council.

“If you have a five-acre parcel of land, you could easily install 300 doors to house families comfortably,” he said.

“These are not tents or classrooms converted into shelters. They’re real, private spaces people can live in temporarily while permanent homes are built.”

Companies in Kingston already manufacture the units, using repurposed shipping containers sourced locally or imported affordably.

Responding to concerns that some container structures were blown away during the hurricane, Hylton explained that many were not properly anchored.

“They were just placed on the ground. Containers must be bolted to a platform or pad foundation, similar to the Gore housing method. Once anchored correctly, they can withstand strong winds,” he said.

He added that containers could be stacked up to three storeys high with fabricated steel staircases, allowing for compact, multifamily housing, ideal for constrained plots of land.

Hylton said SBAJ President Garnet Reid had endorsed the proposal, noting that it could align with the Government’s planned US$70.8-million hurricane bond and other post-disaster financing mechanisms.

“Once that bond materialises, this system can get people out of shelters now. It’s cost-effective and scalable,” he argued.

He also proposed collaboration with the National Housing Trust (NHT) to allow displaced families to begin paying towards container units, which could later be integrated into permanent housing schemes.

Beyond practicality, Hylton emphasised the human aspect, the need for privacy, stability, and a sense of control amid chaos.

“Tent cities give no peace of mind. They’re hot, crowded, and unsafe. Families need their own space, even temporarily. These units restore comfort and dignity,” he said.

Once criticised as “too modern” or “industrial”, container homes may now offer the very lifeline hundreds of Jamaicans need as communities rebuild from the rubble of Hurricane Melissa.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com

Why Container Homes Could Work in Jamaica

1. Fast to Deploy

Retrofitted shipping containers can be installed within days. Units arrive pre-fitted with electrical wiring, windows, doors, flooring, and bathroom fixtures – allowing displaced families to move in almost immediately.

2. Cost-Effective

Compared to traditional block-and-steel construction, container housing is significantly cheaper. Local companies already convert unused units from the wharf, reducing import costs and wait times.

3. Built for durability

When anchored properly on a platform or pad foundation, container homes can withstand heavy winds. The steel structure is naturally hurricane-resistant once bolted to the base.

4. Scalable for rapid sheltering

On a five-acre property, up to 300 units can be installed. Containers can also be stacked two to three storeys high with fabricated steel staircases, allowing compact multi-family housing.

5. Equipped with modern utilities

Units can be paired with septic systems developed by the Scientific Research Council, capable of holding waste for five to six years before servicing. They can also be fitted with air conditioning, tanks, and insulated interiors for comfort.

6. Private, dignified living

Unlike tent cities or school shelters, container homes give families their own private space. This reduces stress, safeguards privacy, and provides a more humane short-to-medium-term solution after disasters.

7. Flexible for long-term use

When permanent housing is ready, container units can be relocated, integrated into new subdivisions, or converted into income-earning spaces such as Airbnb rentals, extending their value beyond emergency recovery.