With two separate fires leaving three families homeless on Wednesday, much needed help came in the form of government food cards and clothing allowances.
A total of 24 people, including nine children, were left homeless in separate fires in Esperance Village, south Trinidad, and St James on Wednesday.
Hours later, the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services stepped in to provide the families with clothing and food support.
Yesterday, St James father Brian Anderson and his family visited the ministry’s St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain, office where they received a $700 food card and clothing.
Fire broke out at their Fort George home around 11.30 am destroying the entire house.
In the afternoon, Asauph Ghany, manager of the Main People Issues Resolution Coordinating Unit within the ministry, visited Sonny Sooklal and Seereeram Ramdhan as their families began to remove rubble from their burnt-out homes.
Sooklal said they could not work as they were without clothing and the children all had to stay away from school.
Ramdhan said his family spent last night at a relative’s home.
Ghany gave out a food card valued at $700 for Sooklal’s household of 12 while Ramdhan and his two children were given a card valued at $410.
He advised them to visit the ministry’s Port-of-Spain office to collect clothing.
In an interview, Ghany said all three families could apply for a furniture and appliance grant valued up to $10,000 as well as rental accommodation grant which pays $2,500 for three months.
He said if the victims were the landowners or tenants with permission from their landlords to rebuild the houses, the National Social Development Programme could assist with electrical and plumbing work.
He added that psychosocial support was available for the families on their request.
Although the grants were given for immediate support, the families still need help in purchasing construction material for their homes, and books and uniforms for the children.