the recent killing of four homeless people in Kingston has brought to light the struggles of
living on the streets this evening Anthony Lugg shares the story of a homeless family
hoping for a change the gruesome killing of five homeless people on monday will forever be
etched in the minds of their colleagues on the streets of kingston and though concerned about
their safety some homeless people we spoke with say the street is all they know we've been on
the streets of kingston looking at some of the challenges being faced by homeless persons but
we were not prepared for what we saw upon reaching this section of crossroads a mother clinging on to
her son as she slept on the cold haunting streets of kingston a heartbreaking dilemma for any parent
but for jody this has been her reality since october 31 last year you really basically cannot
cope you can just try to live day by day just try to see exactly how you can survive coping does
not work out she was staying at a shelter but when she was asked to leave this is where she ended up
life wasn't always like this she worked in a call center for years and was doing just fine so
how did she get here when i stopped working in kingston bill started piling up and everything
couldn't get any job where i was had to move moved lived with a family member there was an issue in
regards to the child he ended up eating the child went to station i was so that i had to leave from
the family household where i was staying and since then i've had to be staying with some relatives or
even friends and then the situation has worsened where they can no longer assist me so then i'm
then on the street the nights are a little calmer but in the daytime heat isn't the only thing she
has to deal with majority of the time would be here if not um around the place so to speak
staying in one place at one particular time can be very much difficult or even tormenting
tormenting for her but imagine what goes through the mind of her seven-year-old son
who also has to be roving the city like a nomad he will ask the question why we have to be on the
streets or where we have to be if i have something to do while we have to walk we can't take um
transportation questions such as those there may be times when he may need something where it's
just not there and i can't afford it and he will ask questions or he may get upset he's a child
he doesn't really understand what the situation is but then you'll have to explain that the funding
is just not there compounded with all these issues unscrupulous people went into her bags and
stole most of her documents including her birth certificate nis card as well as cxc certifications
which means seeking employment is more difficult it's a dream of hers for her son to be enrolled
in school but that has been halted at least until she's able to put a roof over their heads
he should have been in school already being the fact that the government does have
issues in regards to kids not being in school whether or not the education can be paid for
but then being the fact that online classes are now happening it's a bit difficult in the
fact that there is no um housing facility for him to be able to be doing his classes
there's no telling how much longer jody and her son will have to endure the pain and the struggles
the mother however remains hopeful i don't want any handled i would like to work for myself
to ensure that i'm gainfully employed so i can start paying my nhd and such contributions
to ensure that my child can have a better future for himself anthony logg tbj news