Homeless in Penal, Nelson cries for help

He lived on the property with his 38-year-old wife, Sharon, and five children.

The home was demolished on November 6 by a crew who told Nelson a ten-year court battle for the property had “gone against him”. Nelson said the land was one of three lots given to his deceased mother, Rita, by her common-law-husband,

“They destroyed the entire upper storey of the house and all of my furniture and appliances got damaged when the moving crew pulled them into the yard,” said Nelson, who said his daughter’s laptop, school books and bed were also damaged. When Newsday visited the family, there were numerous garbage bags, piled high with clothing in the porch of his late mother’s house. Appliances had been left out in the rain and Nelson said the refrigerator, stove and furniture were useless and need to be replaced. Nelson said his family of seven has temporary shelter in a one room apartment downstairs of his mother’s house.

“We can’t stay there for long because the house belongs to other family and they need the space,” said Nelson. A former employee of Super Industrial Services (SIS), Nelson said he has been on permanent disability leave since becoming visually impaired in one eye. His wife works at a bakery.

The communications unit of HDC referred Newsday to HDC social department officer,

Trevor Edwards who deals with housing issues.

He told Newsday the Nelsons must write a letter to the Managing Director of HDC, Jearlean John, requesting emergency housing.