Santa Joy pleads for elves to help needy senior

When it rains, it pours straight into the deteriorating hazard-prone building he calls home.

Milton Crump, who is hard of hearing and visually impaired, has been living in this dilapidated building for years. With age, the landlord has waived his rent.

The 85-year-old is the last man standing from his family bloodline of four children but has been graced with the assistance of a family friend,

The good Samaritan, Joy, visited him three years ago out of curiosity from seeing him walking on the street on her daily commute. Her heart was broken by what she saw.

“It wasn’t pleasant because him can’t see that much. The water him use a cook the food, it nuh clean,” Joy said.

Because of this, Crump’s handy helper has made it her point of duty to give him a warm meal every day, but the squalid condition of the downtown Kingston home fills her with despair.

Crump’s outside bathroom exposes him to the weather, rain or shine. The toilet has no seat or cover and the door swings from one hinge. The shower area is filled with debris and rotten wood from the structure, making it unusable except for a light-footed cat. He has been showering at a pipe in the front yard.

The Portland native has been living on the ground floor of the building at the intersection of Beeston Street and Johns Lane for over 15 years. Crump explained that he was not able to save while working pay cheque to pay cheque. Now in old age, he lives every day with the fear of the ceiling caving in at several points.

ALONE AND WORRIED

Joy has rallied the cooperation of someone else to help patch up the ceiling with bits of board that have fallen from the crumbling structure. Besides that, Crump said it gets lonely and is also unable to sleep at night.

“A night-time, me sit down a fret and nuh have nobody fi talk to more than listen to mi radio with mi likkle cat,” said Crump.

Lauding Joy for her help, Crump said he would not have managed because a lot of friends and acquaintances from the market have stopped coming by over time.

“The strongest part of me is me mouth,” said the former shoemaker, sharing that he is plagued with kidney problems, shortness of breath, hypertension, and aches. Though he would prefer to have his own place, Crump has been making enquiries to get accepted into an infirmary despite COVID-19 infection-control and prevention measures banning new admissions. Crump, who hopes to flee the dangers of Kingston’s gritty streets, crumpled to the floor last Friday, dragging himself along the floor before clambering on to a chair.

A recent announcement from the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Desmond McKenzie has lifted Crump’s spirit for the Christmas.

McKenzie said in Parliament last week that discussions are ongoing with Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton to find shelter for destitute citizens next year.

Though he will be alone for the holidays, Crump looks forward to a merry 2021 with high hopes of being accepted in any of the facilities.

Secretary general of the Missionaries of the Poor, Brother Roche Tulalian, has committed to providing a Christmas care package for Crump as their response is currently limited by COVID measures.

Tulalian is pleading with people who have relatives that are homeless or in need to stand by them through thick and thin. Beyond the nine facilities of the MOP, Tulalian said homes and shelters in Jamaica are burdened, as homelessness continues to be at crisis proportions.

Currently, more than 570 persons are waiting to gain admission into the various infirmaries and golden age homes across the country. Notably, men account for more than 90 per cent of the homeless population in Jamaica.

jonielle.daley@gleanerjm.com