By KEILE CAMPBELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

SOCIAL Services Minister Myles LaRoda said his ministry has long assisted a mother of two autistic children recently forced to sleep in her car, but admitted that limited shelter capacity continues to hamper efforts to house vulnerable families.

He said the ministry has been helping Ameca Ford McKenzie, 47, and her two sons for some time, with records of its involvement dating back to 2021.

“I saw the dated case history dating back to 2021, and I say based on my advice of written reports and speaking with senior management of social services, I am prepared to put on record that Social Services has done a good job in documenting the assistance given, multiple types of assistance, along with help from private entities,” he said.

He said the demand for shelter has grown significantly in recent years, noting that stays which once lasted only a few days now stretch much longer as more people seek help. He recalled that when the government leased the Poinciana Inn, it was able to provide accommodation for up to three months, unlike other facilities that are paid for daily.

He said the government intends to rent two more facilities to help meet the growing need for housing assistance.

He noted that homelessness is not limited to the unemployed, with some working Bahamians also struggling to cope with rising rent costs.

“Working people, which we can define as the working poor, have just had their rents raised on them exponentially,” he said. “A constituent came to see me who is renting a room that she shares a bathroom for, for $800. These individuals just need shelter temporarily to save enough money for their first, last, and security deposit on another apartment.”

Mr LaRoda dismissed suggestions that migrants are prioritised over Bahamians for assistance, describing such claims as “absolute rubbish.” He explained that under the law, foreigners only qualify for emergency help, such as shelter, during natural disasters or other extreme emergencies. Outside of those situations, temporary shelter is reserved for Bahamians. He added that while The Bahamas is bound by international treaties guaranteeing basic rights like education and healthcare, these protections do not extend to general housing assistance.

The Coalition of Independents provided temporary housing assistance to Ms McKenzie and her children. Ms McKenzie, who works as a security officer, said she fell behind on rent after months of financial difficulty. She said that when she reached out to the Department of Social Services for help, officials told her there was a wait list for assistance. “They had put me on hold because they said that they have a lot of people who were in front of me,” she said. “They had no place, but when they get something, they would let me know.”