Former homeless man gets new lodging after rehab
Published:Tuesday | October 15, 2024 | 12:06 AMBryan Miller/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Fifty-four-year-old Donald Jones, who was once homeless, now has a new lease on life with a place to call home, after successfully undergoing rehabilitation.
According to Neika Edram, the inspector of the poor at the Hanover Poor Relief Department (HPRD), Jones, who had been accessing services at the Hanover Drop-in Centre for some time, has shown remarkable improvement in his behavioural and socialising tendencies. Thus, a decision was taken to reward him with a home on World Homeless Day, which was commemorated last Thursday.
Jones is now residing in a one-bedroom house in the Knuckle Hill area of Lucea. His rent will be paid going forward by the HPRD, courtesy of the Hanover Municipal Corporation (HMC).
At the handover of the fully furnished house, Edram highlighted Jones’ progress, noting that, based on his conduct, he is worthy of the assistance.
“He was someone who, when we got him, was not taking his medication. He was unkempt and we would have assisted and encouraged him over the period,” said Edram. “He’s at a place now where he takes his medication without us having to remind him. He goes to the clinic on his own, maintaining himself in a good way while keeping himself hygienically well.”
She further noted that Jones has even started a small vending enterprise to help to maintain himself economically.
Lucea Mayor Sheridan Samuels also saluted Jones for his progress at last week’s meeting of the HMC.
“Today, we handed over keys to a new rented premises to a client who we have rehabilitated through our poor relief services,” said Samuels, who emphasised the mantra of the HPRD, which is to improve the quality of life of the poor.
“He has been empowered with business skills and reintegrated into independent living in his own home. We will very shortly be providing him with a vending licence and assigning him a vending space in the Lucea Market to do his business,” said Samuels.
Councillor Marvell Sewell, chairman of the HMC’s Poor Relief and Homelessness Committee, told The Gleaner that the presentation was the realisation of one of the committee’s annual commitments.
“We all know that, when someone is homeless, it takes a toll on that individual and, as such, we at the committee have made the commitment to [significantly] change the life of at least one person each year, whose situation comes to our attention and needs the assistance,” said Sewell.
Sewell added that some persons who fall into a homeless situation are former nation-builders and, as such, they deserve the best that the nation can offer.