“More Than Concrete and Steel”: A New Hostel Opens for Orphaned Young Men Living With HIV

• A transitional hostel at Mustard Seed’s Matthew 25:40 Boys’ Home is complete
• It houses 19 young men aged 16 to 26
• The Kiwanis Club of North St Andrew raised more than $25 million
• Archbishop Kenneth Richards chairs Mustard Seed Communities

A new transitional hostel for young men living with or affected by HIV is ready at the Matthew 25:40 Boys’ Home in Kingston, run by Mustard Seed Communities, the Catholic ministry founded by Monsignor Gregory Ramkissoon.

The Gleaner reported in December 2025 that the 1,500-square-foot building has seven bedrooms, three bathrooms and a recreational area. It will house 19 young men aged 16 to 26, many of whom were orphaned, as they prepare to move into independent adult life.

The project was led by the Kiwanis Club of North St Andrew, which raised more than $25 million through its Sensational Solar Raffle, launched in 2023. The original target was $6 million. The initiative began in October 2021 and ran in three phases: mentorship, skills-training workshops and, finally, construction, which started on June 30, 2025.

Archbishop Kenneth Richards, chairman of Mustard Seed Communities, and Dr Laine Oakley Williams of the National Housing Trust were among those involved. Club president Damion Lawrence summed up the project: “This hostel is more than concrete and steel; it is a beacon of hope, a bridge to independence, and a testament to what service, faith, and unity can accomplish.”

Transitional housing is one of the least visible gaps in Jamaica’s housing system. Young people leaving children’s homes often have no family home to return to, no savings and no rental history. A church-run facility that bridges that gap shows how faith organisations, service clubs and housing agencies can work together. For congregations and diaspora donors looking for practical ways to support housing, it points to a clear need: safe places for vulnerable young adults to live while they get on their feet.

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