The Tribune

AN OPPOSITION Senator has spoken out after a protest was held by residents due to be evicted from the Poinciana Inn shelter.  

A blind woman, a mother of six, and a dialysis patient pleaded for more time at the Poinciana Inn, a temporary shelter from where they face imminent eviction.

The group, along with others, gathered outside the shelter on Monday, holding signs to protest their situation.

Cherely Kelly, assistant director of the Ministry of Social Services responsible for temporary shelters, told reporters that as a short-term facility, residents are expected to stay for a maximum of three months.

Assistant director Kelly said some residents have been in the shelter for as long as two years. 

Shelter administrator Dawn Darling emphasised that the facility has an exit strategy to help residents transition out and achieve self-sufficiency.

FNM Senator Maxine Seymour called the plea from those facing eviction “heartbreaking”.

She said: “While the Davis administration pats itself on the back, claiming a vibrant economy, increased tourism arrivals and a generally growing economic environment, the reports from the ground do not support those assertions.

“The plea from persons facing eviction from the Social Services Shelter is heartbreaking and I call upon the government to hear their cry. What are they suppose to do now that they are faced with the possibility of being homeless by the end of the week?”

She added: “A compassionate society cannot set arbitrary limits on shelter assistance without also ensuring safe, sustainable housing solutions for those in crisis.  It is my considered view that the government should and must address these needs. Single mothers and their children cannot be left in limbo, counting on programmes that may take years to provide real, measurable support. 

“I urge this administration to prioritise tangible, caring and immediate alternate solutions to assist these women and children in genuine need, through no fault of their own.

“This is a time for action, not rhetoric. If the government would simply consider reducing its travel budget, its consultancy budget or its retiree rehiring budget, quite possibly additional resources can be freed up to help find alternative accommodation for vulnerable families rather than leaving them with no place to turn. 

“The Opposition stands ready to work with the government and community partners to create a more effective, humane approach to shelter and housing assistance, one that honors the dignity and needs of every Bahamian family.”