Family of 26 Receives New Home After Hurricane Lisa’s Devastation

A 2-storey house was handed over to a Belize City family on Iguana Street in the Mesopotamia Division.  63-year-old, Paula Thomas, explained that the previous structure was destroyed by Hurricane Lisa in 2022.  Since then they have been hoping and praying for a replacement.  Today, their prayers were answered when the Ministry of Housing handed over the keys to a brand new house which will facilitate some 26 family members.  Tiffany Garbutt, Human Development Coordinator at the Ministry of Human Development, said that, after the hurricane, the family home had to be demolished. 

Tiffany Garbutt, Ministry of Human Development Coordinator: “This family came to our attention during Hurricane Lisa while we were doing assessment. The hurricane really did damage to their home. The home was already a challenge for them, but the hurricane compounded that challenge. And so we reached out to MIDH immediately and asked them what they could do. And the discussion was demolition. And we said, okay, we need to ensure that they’re safe. And so we enter into a partnership with MIDH where we supported them with placing them in safe accommodations while MIDH did this work. It has definitely been a journey. It has taken some time. But we supported the process through and the communication was definitely flowing. I’m here today very overwhelmed for them. It’s Thanksgiving and I’m very, very thankful for them because we had walked this journey with them and so we understand. And we, you know, just their smiles and their grateful hearts and hearing them say, you know. I am in my home is a joy to us and so it is definitely an accomplishment for them but for us because it shows where strengthening of partnership helps to make lives for these families much better.”

At the handing-over ceremony, the Mesopotamia Standard Bearer for the People’s United Party, Lawrence Ellis was on hand to celebrate with the family.  Ellis contributed to the project through the supply of house furniture.   

Paula Thomas, House Recipient: “Because when the hurricane came, Lisa, my house was destroyed with everything. Well it didn’t collapse but it was in a bad state so it had to change. Praise to the lord for everything. That’s the only person you can depend on, Jesus with the people that help develop to get my house. I have nine kids and I have sixteen grandchildren.”

Reporter: All of them live here ?

Paula Thomas, House Recipient: “Yes they live with me. Not up here, that’s why I made them divide the downstairs because that’s how the first house was.”

Lawrence Ellis, PUP Standard Bearer, Mesopotamia: “Well the size of the lot was a factor and it’s not one person living in the home it’s three families actually and so the only way was to go up. This is the first of its kind. It’s a beautiful house. Very comfortable if you see the inside. I mean the people of Mesopotamia should be proud and they’re gonna see more of this to come. Upstairs has three bedrooms and downstairs has two bedroom units. We actually put refrigerator and stoves in all of them as a little extra.”

This two-story house is the first of its kind built by the Ministry of Housing.