CRYSTAL Allen, a 22-year-old unemployed single mother living with three children in Old Harbour, St Catherine, is one of the three persons who have received houses from Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica as part of their objective of building at least three houses ahead of their 5K race held on May 9.
The funds used to build two of the three houses were donated by the National Commercial Bank (NCB) Foundation and the construction of Allen's house took place recently.
Allen, who is mother of children aged five, three and two months, said she was extremely grateful that FFP chose her as one of the three individuals to receive a house.
Allen said she was feeling great and very appreciative of what Food For The Poor and NCB Foundation have done for her. Allen was very glad, because she was in need of somewhere to live, now has a house for herself.
"Mi did really, really in need. Mi drop out of high school, and mi mek mistakes and get three children with three different fathers, but Food For The Poor and NCB Foundation have given me a second chance," Allen said in an interview during the construction of her house
Prior to the intervention of FFP and the NCB Foundation, Allen said she faced many challenges in life, which forced her to move into houses with men, who took advantage of her and impregnated her.
"My mada mentally ill. My first child's father died, so I had to live with people all over and dem used to put me out. Mi never live no weh and as soon as mi go live with one man and mi get pregnant, him gone lef me, so I had it very hard," she said.
Within the last year, while pregnant with her now two-month-old child, her neighbour Barbara Nicholas, who received a house from FFP in 2010, took her to the charity organisation's head office in St Catherine and initiated the process for her to receive a house.
"I saw her situation and I thought it was really, really bad, so I brought her to Food For The Poor," Nicholas, a vendor, said in an interview recently.
"I help her when I can. After I sell food at the market, anything that is left over, and I can give it to her, I give it to her. My dream is to see her now making life better for herself and her children. I want her to get a start, where she could start buying and selling goods as she used to when she had her first child. I also want to see her going back to school, and I have been encouraging her to do this," Nicholas said.
According to Jacinth Morgan-Collie, programmes administrator, NCB Foundation, her organisation is pleased to know that they could have made a difference in Allen's life.
"This is our way of leading the charge in corporate social responsibility and demonstrating to other organisations that we can do so much more to develop Jamaica one family and one community at a time. The Foundation is proud to have partnered with Food For The Poor in 'Changing Lives and Restoring Families'," Morgan-Collie said.
David Mair, executive director, FFP Jamaica, said more Jamaicans such as Allen, who are in need of second chances and homes, will benefit from the $46.5 million raised from FFP's recent 5K Run/Walk.
"Food For The Poor wants to assist as many needy Jamaicans as we possibly can such as Ms Allen. In upcoming months, more desperate Jamaicans in need of houses will receive houses from the funds we have raised. We are also grateful to NCB Foundation for providing funds to construct Ms Allen's house, and other donors who contributed to the funds now available that was raised from our 5K Run/Walk," Mair said.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/A-house-for-homeless-mother-of-three_19153284
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