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Fire victim takes to streets for help

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Published: 
Saturday, November 22, 2014

After losing all her possessions in a fire six months ago, mother of one Michelle Francis has been depending on the kindness of strangers, begging for money on the streets of San Fernando. While she says she is willing to work, circumstances have driven her to beg for help to feed her 18-month-old son Daniel. Yesterday Francis, 40, of Arouca, clutched her son to her chest as she approached the T&T Guardian on Chancery Lane, San Fernando, for help. 

Her pants legs were wet from walking in the rain and she had put a washrag over her son’s head to keep him dry. She said she was looking for work or any money the T&T Guardian could spare. “I want to work. I used to work before but after I lose everything in the fire I had to depend on the kindness of others,” she said. Francis said in June she lost her home in a fire and a friend put her on to Robert Baptiste, who offered her a place to stay in Gasparillo. 

She lives in a one-room apartment at Bocas Road, St Charles Street, Gasparillo, owned by Baptiste, who allows her to stay rent-free when she cannot afford to pay. The 51-year-old Baptiste said he helped Francis out because “she has nowhere to go. She needs the help. She is a good girl and she have a baby.” Francis said all she wanted was to be able to sustain herself and her son so she could give Daniel the things he needed. 

“Sometimes I do not eat but I make sure I have enough money so I could make tea for him. “It has been really bad for me. I have no one and nowhere to go,” she said in an interview at the T&T Guardian’s San Fernando office. She said she had applied for social welfare but was told she had to take Daniel’s father to court to get maintenance first and bring the court documents before she could get help. 

She lost all her belongings and documents around the second week in June when her Arouca home went up in flames. She said she  left for work one day and when she returned she discovered everything had been destroyed in the fire. “My neighbours said there was nothing they could do. They tell me they did not know how the fire started. The house burned fast and they could not save anything,” she added.

She said she did not to expect to have a good Christmas because she did not have money but is hoping members of the public will be generous when they see her begging on the streets. Francis, who appeared close to tears, said she did not want to beg. “It is not a nice feeling, knowing that I have to do this but I do so I can make sure he has milk, cereal and (disposable diapers),” she added.

During the interview Daniel tugged at Francis’s collar, asking for food. She opened her bag, unwrapped a piece of foil and broke off a piece of bread and jam which she fed to the child. She also took small nibbles from the single sandwich. She said she survived on help from churches in the area which give her clothing and food. Francis is hoping she will get the help she needs to care for her son whom she carries with her when she sets off to beg for help.

Anyone who wants to help Francis can contact her at 389-6124.

Michelle Francis and her one year old son Daniel sit on a piece of foam which they use as a mattress at the wooden structure which she calls home after a fire destroyed her home. PHOTO: KRISTIAN DE SILVA

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