The government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has rented an apartment for the family, including children 10 and 6, who had been living under a tree and sleeping under sheds in Kingstown for almost four months.
Last Friday, staff at the Social Welfare Department moved the family to a house in East St. George, two days after their story was published on iWitness News.
Inola Haynes had told iWitness News last Wednesday that the department had told them that the government would pay the rent for six months if they were able to find an apartment for EC$450 per month.
But for almost four months, she had had no success finding such a place.
In a follow-up interview on Monday under the flamboyant tree that was her home for four months, Haynes expressed appreciation that she now has a roof over her head and her children are safe.
“I feel comfortable but I would like to build a little shelter for myself,” the unemployed woman told iWitness News.
The woman has had a tough life, her mother having given her away as a child to someone in Union Island.
She said that since the story was published, her estranged brother has reached out to her and offered to allow her to build a home on lands that he owns.
“I want to thank everybody who helped me,” she said and expressed special appreciation to those who responded with clothes and food.
Haynes, her boyfriend, and her children — 18- and 6-year-old sons and a 10-year-old daughter — became homeless after their landlord evicted them from an apartment in Questelles over her boyfriend’s drinking problem.
With nowhere to go, they found themselves living on the streets of Kingstown for months, although the Social Welfare Department was aware of their situation.
She said that last Friday, a social worker turned up with a vehicle and transported them to the apartment in East St. George.
Haynes said that the social workers told her that she would still have to look for an apartment closer to Kingstown so that it would be easier for her children to travel to their school, which is located in the city.
Further, after six months, Haynes, who is unemployed, would have to foot the rent bill, she said the social worker had told her.
She, however, said she does not know how much the rent is.
“I want a work right now to help myself,” she said, adding that her boyfriend, who had caused their eviction, had not moved to the new apartment with them.
On Wednesday, the man was sitting under the tree in Kingstown where he and his family had spent much of their daytime hours over the past few months.
He told iWitness News that he was still living there.
Meanwhile, Haynes’ 18-year-old son, who was the subject of some criticism in the media because he had left the security guard job he had some years ago, explained on Wednesday that he had been fired.
“… it was hard on me. I was fired because sometimes the late thing, you know,” said the man who worked 12-hour shifts with one day off every week and received just over EC$700 a month.
“But I don’t really study that. I decide to come out and do something else and make use of myself,” said Junior, who dropped out of secondary school because of the challenges his family was having meeting their daily expenses.
The youth washes vehicles for money and is enrolled in government-funded classes and plans to write CXC maths and English.
“I’m doing this for the time because I am kind of busy with my classes,” he said of his vehicle-cleaning operation.
“When I finish my classes and I get what I want, I will be on the good side,” he said.
The youth said his car washing operation is going well and that he has some regular customers.
He is asking persons to support his efforts, saying he charges EC$10 to wash the outside of a vehicle and EC$15 to clean both inside and outside.
Junior’s business is based “under the same tree” on McCoy Street, near the former Black Cat Bar building that his family called home for almost four months.
And as for his siblings, he said they are doing fine.
“They gone to school today,” he said.
If you are willing to assist Inola Haynes and her family, you can reach her at +1784-432-6243.
Wishing the family all the best, may God continue to keep roof over their head and the kids to stay focused on their education stay positive.
If iWitness News had not reported on this issues, they’d still be under the tree. What does this say about givernment “services?”
Kenton thanks for sharing her story, am sure others are in the same predicament as that family but maybe ashamed to come forward. I do hope people reach out and help, old people say today for me tomorrow for you. We never know.
God sees every struggle and understands every pain. In his own perfect timing, he will deliver the weak and the poor ones who ceaselessly call upon him and seek diligently his mercies.
Better to teach them how to fish rather than give them a meal of fish. If you teach then how to fish they will have food for a life time, however, if u out gave them a meal of fish will soon fall hungry and be trapped in a lifetime of everlasting poverty.
NATIONAL CONSCIENCE
This gesture speaks to the ‘…National Conscience’ and concern for the well-being of the indigent
The nation came to the rescue of a ‘…destitute family,’ who had been living in wretchedness and at the very edge of ‘…poverty.’
Highly commendable of Editor Kenton Chance in highlighting their plight and despair and the unbearable human suffering.
IWN shall lead them through the ‘…Valley of Human Miseries.’
Good men duties are to protect, provide and profess. If he can’t provide why you want to be with him and have kids for him.
No matter how menial being a parent you can find a job to provide for your kids. How about doing someone laundry.
Government cannot do everything a person has to help themselves. The lord held those best who help themselves. Where there is a will there is a way.
Kenton thanks from every goodhearted Vincentian, without your broadcast intervention this result could never of happened. It is most obvious this government really do not care about the plight of people. They only begin to care when it is a cause of embarrassment for them.
Thank you Kenton