Blind woman buys house - Needs help to fix it up

Despite being left blind in both eyes after she was shot in the head, Alicia Fowler has been working assiduously towards her vision of providing for her family.

The mother of four hustled on the streets of downtown Kingston for years and contributed to the National Housing Trust, until she finally purchased a four-bedroom abode in downtown Kingston.

"I was helping myself by going on the road and singing, and people assisted me by giving me a $10, $20, $1, or even $100. I used to throw my little partner to help myself. Otherwise, I used to sell my things, but police took it away from me, saying that I'm selling in the wrong place," Fowler told THE STAR.

Fowler said her teenage daughter used to assist by leading her around as she begged, but decided to stop after her school friends teased her.

After tedious paperwork, and a lengthy wait, Fowler finally received the title for the house, located in Mark Lane, Kingston, in February. She plans to live in a section with her children, and rent the extra rooms to tenants so that she can earn a living more comfortably.

RENOVATION NEEDED

But before that plan can take effect, Fowler has to renovate the dilapidated dwelling. "It is a solid concrete structure but it needs some work. It need some solitex [board] and zincs, and things to fix the roof," Fowler's younger brother, Delroy Clarke, told THE STAR.

"Me tired fi see she a pay rent weh she deh. Mi want to see her move in her house and can collect rent from tenant, but the place no ready yet," Clarke said.

Fowler first shared her vision for the future and her heart-rending story of how she lost her sight with THE STAR in August 2015.

"In 1996, gunmen kicked off my door and robbed me and shot me. The bullet go through me right eye, and come out through me left ear. Me blind in both eyes," She had told THE STAR.

Despite her struggles with ear infections, hypertension, and ovarian cysts, which doctors say might be cancerous, Fowler has her sight set on a brighter future.

"I was so happy when I got through with the house. I even bawled, because God help me that me can own a house, but I still need some help to fix the house," Fowler said.

Anyone wishing to assist Alicia Fowler can contact her at 314-3848.