Society must help homeless

On Tuesday, as he spoke of the decrepit condition of certain areas in the nation’s capital, Dr Rowley pointed to the prevalence of street dwellers saying that no one has a right or entitlement to live on the streets. Yesterday, Newsday visited the QP Savannah to get homeless Francis’ view on Rowley’s statement.

Sitting in a chair at his makeshift home comprising a tarpaulin tent secured under a tree at the southern end of the savannah, Francis said: “I understand where the prime minister is coming from. But for most of us, while it is not our right, we have no choice in the mater. I had a business that went into receivership.

Then I decided to work PH. One day, I got robbed of my car and was unable to facilitate rent. Eventually I was put out (of my house) and I have been on the streets ever since.” He believes that society is supposed to help persons like him who have fallen on hard times. “It is difficult to start from scratch. But I am doing what I can until better can be done. Even if I want to work, I would need clothes and money just to be able to go to work. In this country, people have forgotten about that saying about being our brother’s keeper,” Francis said.

Moving from the savannah is not an issue for Francis who says he is willing to do so once he gets somewhere safe to reside. He also stated that he tried to make the Centre for Socially-Displaced People (CSDP) a place where he could comfortably rest, but that place was not suitable.

Francis said when he went to the centre, his meagre possessions were stolen and other persons living there, were prone to violence.

He said that for too long, politicians and those in authority have paid lip service to the issue of street dwellers. “Every time a new mayor is sworn in, the first thing that person talks about is removing vagrants and street vendors. Removing people against their will is not right. Provide a facility where they (street dwellers) can go voluntarily.

That’s my personal view on how to solve the issue,” Francis said. “I could manage my life. I just need a start...a little push. I don’t know about anyone else. I could only answer for me,” he said.

CSDP manager Roger Watson said that street dwelling in the capital has been a contentious issue for decades. “Trinidad and Tobago is too wealthy a nation to have so many homeless persons. We should have eliminated this problem long time.” While agreeing that people would become homeless for different reasons, it should be made law that once a person is deemed ‘homeless’, they must be sent to the CSDP. According to Watson, the problem of street dwelling in the capital has reached crisis proportions.

“If you ask me, it is a crisis! We have a shortage of medication for mentally ill homeless persons. I have a set of clinic cards for people who have not received medication since September.” CSDP currently houses 119 persons, of which 19 are female. According to research done by Watson and his team, Port-of- Spain has no less than 300 mentally ill persons, living on the street.

Homeless person Anderson Cloden said he was deported from the United States five years ago and while he did not disclose the reason for his deportation, he was very clear about what should be done to deal with street dwellers. “Trinidad and Tobago have no right to have homeless. This country has too much resources and wealth to be having so many homeless persons.

They should be able to eliminate homelessness entirely. They have to see about the poor. That’s their duty.

That is the right of those in authority...

so exercise that right and help us.”