CIG claims just 12 homeless families

| 16/02/2015 | 14 Comments

(CNS): The chief officer in the ministry of community affairs said that during 2014 the Needs Assessment Unit helped just twelve families with rental assistance where “the primary problem or contributing factor was homelessness.” Dorine Whittaker said that in the fiscal year ending 30 June 2013, the NAU provided 437 families with rental assistance and in the last fiscal year 393 families were helped with rent.

The figures were sent to CNS Friday, several hours after we published a story regarding the plight of some homeless people sleeping on benches in downtown George Town and  some three months after we had requested information regarding what statistical information government had about homelessness in Cayman and what policies were in place to deal with it.

However, ministry CO did not supply any other information and it appears that government does not know exactly how many people in the community do not have a secure place to live or are living in substandard accommodation.

While people living on the streets are becoming more visible, the larger problems of genuine social deprivation are even more hidden and easier for the authorities to ignore. The growing problem of poverty was further highlighted this week when the Minimum Wage Committee revealed that almost a third of the workforce in Cayman is on low pay.

With the real unemployment figure estimated to be more than double the official statistics and growing numbers of families living in accommodation without utilities, government has no real data on the vulnerability of those who do not have secure accommodation, indicated by the claim that just a dozen families were helped by social services because they had nowhere to live.

The anecdotal evidence about people living in cars and sleeping rough and the assumptions that homelessness is on the increase is supported by evidence in the courts. On several occasions Justice Charles Quin has raised his concerns about teenagers in the criminal justice system who could be bailed but instead have to be remanded to the adult prison in Northward because not only is there no suitable accommodation for young offenders to be held but these young people are also homeless and have nowhere they can be bailed to.

The situation also happens frequently with mental health patients who are also being criminalized and jailed because of their problems and the fact that many do not have secure or safe accommodation. The courts are often forced to remand patients to prison because they are homeless.

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Twelve homeless families in Cayman and at the same time government workers are home on suspension with full pay for assaulting police officers. Damn shame.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Posters have hit the mark with valid commentary. As with every public issue, Governments have failed to admit the full scope of the situation – instead choosing to profess that “there is no poverty in Cayman”. When one Government recognizes at least a part of the problem and does something (albeit not enough as was the case wth Dr. Frank’s low-cost housing initiative), then a successor Government tears down (pardon the pun) and reverses what little progress was made.

    This approach is the same for many public issues and shos the simple-minded and personal politics which is our broken political system. Meanwhile, the people suffer.

    CNS, than you for presenting this subject. Let’s see how long it takes Government (Hon. Osbourne?) to issue some credible and substantial response. That would be a start because we won’t see any real action on this problem by this Government, except putting people out of their homes without providing viable alternatives.

    • Anonymous says:

      Yep CIG reports 12 homeless family and they also report no crime in cayman, no gangs…..do i need to say more????

  3. Anonymous says:

    I didn’t take the comment 16/2 @ 3:41pm to mean “get rid of work permit holders”. I understand he meant that if we had LESS maybe; just maybe some of these families with genuine needs would find work? Why is it we’re always assuming and making derogatory assumptions and pithing Caymanian against expat? It is a sad reality that we have homeless people here. We boast of our “richness” as a country to come invest and live yet we don’t do what is right in regards the Caymanian? If one child is hungry; if one child is naked or without basic necessities that’s an indictment on ALL of us!! After all basic human needs MUST be met for any country to flourish and truly be prosperous! The DCFS has to be overhauled. Yes they do have great people with good intentions there but some are so ingrained and full of apathy they need be retired or given a different post in another dept! There are those who claim $550 each month and at the end of Gov’t payday has not one penny for a bread or for laundry or for personal hygiene. We see them in ALL districts so to the other comment about “how many from the Republic aka WB” pause ole heart and look in the mirror. Yup; got it now…..you have them in YOUR lil corner too friend; uhuh sitting under the almond tree by Chester’s or by the old theatre or under the cabanas at BT beach; down on the waterfront or riding thru GT; under the cabana or seaside wall in EE and meandering along the road and fence by Over the Edge NS…….Oh you thought we didn’t know…..LOL see West Bayers know they have a problem; we work to try to help SOLVE the problem rather than point fingers!! We all know what they say about that action eh? Yup Three fingers pointing back at you! But getting back to homelessness it is a crying shame for any citizen in Cayman to not have basic shelter. Instead of complaining try see how we can offer remedies. For starters doesn’t Gov’t have UNOCCUPIED homes in BT? If some that are homeless are employed wouldn’t it be better to have them RENT those homes rather than have them sit there EMPTY Minister Bodden? OR why don’t we get some trailers and fill in on Gov’t land where old Hortor hospital was supposed to be built? When people are w/o shelter a basic one such as dbl trailers are better than nothing. When that need is met then we work with the families to get those that are employed on a budget even if it means assisitance for 2 years for them to qualify for one of the Gov’t homes? We would and should ensure that when they can stand they’re made to stand. OR if they have family land or own a piece of land why not assist with a basic texture one-eleven or cement-board home? We have to do SOMETHING or this will spiral out of control……and yes pretty soon we’ll look the good ole USA:- mentally-ill; war veterans with PTSD; bums, beggars and homeless persons sleeping all over the place and in every knook and cranny!!
    I say to Minister Bodden and Ms Whittaker please take the time to get an accurate picture of the TRUE problems wiith homelessness and work with the society ie churches and non-profits and come up with a workable, livable solution!! It is imperative that you do so post haste!! IT CANNOT. CONTINUE TO FESTER. Or soon IT WILL BE OUT OF CONTROL……

  4. Anonymous says:

    I know of at least 4 homeless households one that has 3 children in it. They are living for free without water here in West Bay at an old man’s house which use to be apartments for rent but since the crime and low rents drove down the rates the apartments fell into disrepair and it is just a nasty train wreck of humanity with chickens running around old broken down cars and cubans speaking swainish. No water lights flickering on and off the whole place on the verge of bankruptcy. The old man laughs and seeks pity on the immigrants who are Caymanian by connection and have integrated into the slums. We the old man dies, the estate will be sold to what is likely to be a single low bid and that will be the end of that and 8 persons will join the homeless list.

    I can bet that this is happening all across this island…right now I hear a generator humming and in the last 7 days I have been asked to loan the following amounts of money

    $150, $200 and $75 not to mention the bums in town hitting me up outside the automotive shop asking for a few dollars. Or the other bums I have avoided! This island is mad and despite all the boom seems like nothing is left on the table round here…As for me, I am just trying to put up $200 a month towards my education. Sad, sad, sad

  5. Anonymous says:

    Hmmm. I wonder how many of these “needy” folk were from the republic…

    • Mary says:

      16/02/2015 @ 9:10 pm

      Kindly go fly a kite.

      The nicest way I could think of to say “go eff yourself”.

      I’m sure you have never landed on hard times. And if you have, then join the club.

      Otherwise, shut your mouth. You clearly have a grudge against West Bay. Is it still not apart of The Cayman Islands?

      And pray tell, sir/madam, where do you hail from? So that I can do my own research and make an informed opinion before spouting out absolute nonsense.

      And before you even try to start with me, I was raised in George Town.

      Have a lovely day, douche. 🙂

  6. Concern2003 says:

    Ok now that it has been confirmed that the CIG assisted 12 homeless with rental assistance, can you please provide a breakdown of the other hundreds of individuals that you are cuerrently assisting and further outline the period. From what I gather the Rental Assistance Program is temporary and it does not exceed 6months. If this is the case then there should be some major concern as there will be hundreds who are genuinely will be homeless. On a similar note there are also hundreds that are getting this benefit that don’t deserve it. Cayman will never get an accurate picture of this as the DCFS and it’s Chiefs will always be hiding behind the excuse that they are limited with resources to provide anything.

  7. Andy Walton says:

    They should be a shame to even says its one with 21000 work permits

    • Anonymous says:

      The problem is that the top brass is too busy taking photo ops claiming to be best employer, or running races. These people are so out of touch and utterly useless!

    • Anonymous says:

      An number of homeless people are drug addicts. It is easier for them to get drugs than find a place to sleep. Their are those who move from district to district sleeping on the public beach or under other sheltered spaces. Government should assist those who genuinely need help, because an number of the so call needy, when they are helped by individualis they find a way to sell what’s given to them to fund their bad habits.

    • Anonymous says:

      That’s right because we all know that expats are to blame for everything. Remove all the work permits and things will get much much better. Good luck with that mentality.

  8. Anonymous says:

    CNS – Congratulations on your story! It has clearly received CIG’s attention, albeit in the usual reactive manner. Your speculation that CIG might not have accurate numbers on the total number of homeless cases is probably accurate. Their response relating to 12 families likely belies the true situation. What about those single and homeless – such as those referenced in your original article and those behind the Cat Boat club as referenced by some posters?

    Surprised you received a prompt response though – Ossie is on his p’s and q’s now!

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