Young mother faces eviction, welfare office appeals to landlords

Joblessness, domestic violence and other household issues are pushing scores of Barbadians, particularly women to the Welfare Department for assistance with rent as they desperately attempt to stave off homelessness.

At the same time, however, Chief Welfare Officer Deborah Norville is growing increasingly concerned about some landlords’ refusal to accept cheques from the government department.

Maryann Powell, 27 is among scores of Barbadians facing eviction in the middle of a COVID-19 lockdown imposed to curb community spread of the virus. The mother of two – an eight-year-old daughter and a six-year-old son with cerebral palsy, says her main source of income dried up when schools closed, preventing her from vending outside The St Michael School.

Powell, who also studies Law and English Literature at the Barbados Community College (BCC), secured $850 per month from the Welfare Department to cover rent. But her landlord has refused to accept cheques from the department over concerns that the payments would come late.

However, with the next payment due at the end of this month, the single mother fears she could soon be contending with homelessness.

“We live in a society where we were taught to be our brother’s keeper, but in the middle of a pandemic, we are facing eviction. I don’t have anywhere to go,” Powell told Barbados TODAY.    

“I understand that it is a business, but my intentions aren’t to stay at the apartment for free . . .  How can people be so inhumane?

“I am not working. I am trying to improve my life by furthering my education and to help myself by doing any little thing I can. I know I will come under heavy criticism from the public as to why I ended up like this, but it wasn’t planned out this way. COVID-19 really made things harder . . . All I would say is who feels it knows,” she added.

When contacted, the Chief Welfare Officer revealed that both men and women are on the department’s rent register. However, over the last few months, the number of women requesting this assistance has increased.

Norville is also pleading with landlords to be more compassionate in the midst of the pandemic and stressed that payments from the department are guaranteed, even if delayed.

“[Landlords] may want to weigh the pros and cons of having sure payment from the government or just having the initial two-month payment from a regular tenant and then a whole set of arrears that they may still very well want to approach the welfare department to clear,” the Chief Welfare Officer told Barbados TODAY.

The main reason for the increase in applications is increasing joblessness, along with difficult domestic situations with persons now confined to their homes.

Unfortunately, the Welfare Department does not have access to immediate housing solutions.

“Younger people are being evicted by their parents, and people in general who may have been temporarily housing other people, are now feeling the pinch,” Norville explained.

“There is also a tendency toward domestic violence whereas before, people had other outlets to release this stress where the guy could go to a bar and play dominoes. The female may go for a walk . . . but when you are locked into the same space, many people are finding that they are not as compatible as they were. Heightened stress could trigger aggression and violence and some people are realising that they need to be out of those situations for themselves and their children. This has added pressure on the department as well,” she noted.

Meanwhile, Powell, who says she is the daughter of a former politician, is now at the mercy of sporadic child maintenance payments, contributions from her Power in the Blood Assembly church family, and grants from the Welfare Department.

Despite the current challenges, she has hopes of becoming an educator, though her ultimate goal is to pursue legal studies.

“There is only so much a person can do and take. I am not a lazy person who sits at home and complains about everything. I get up and try to find ways of making money. I need help and this is why I am coming forward, because it seems this is the only way I can get help,” Powell said.

“Since the passing of my mother, kind-hearted persons have stepped forward and offered assistance with regard to food, but we need a roof over our heads. I don’t want us to live on the streets or have my children taken away from me,” she added.
(kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb)