‘Everything is a struggle’ - Homeless woman yearns for job, own house

As she sat across the Desmond McKenzie Transitional Centre for the Homeless at King Street in Jamaica's capital city of Kingston yesterday, Norline Bryan swayed to the uplifting gospel music booming from the speakers located nearby. Every few minutes she smiled, as if visited by some precious memory. However, a closer look at the 55-year-old woman reveals a pair of sad, weary eyes.

For close to two decades, Bryan has been homeless. Her greatest wish is to have a roof over her head and an opportunity to secure meaningful employment. She, however, has very little reason to be optimistic that she will be able to secure a job. In fact, Bryan thinks she is being haunted by the fact that she is an ex-convict.

"Mi try get work but as soon as dem hear seh me do time is a problem. And because me homeless dem think me mad, but me harmless. Mi just want a work," Bryan.

The 'time' to which she refers is a nine-year prison term she said she served for murder.

"Dem time deh mi live in Spanish Town, [St Catherine], and a girl and her friends attack mi and say mi a take one of dem man. Mi a tell dem say a nuh mi but one a dem stab offa mi face and mi did get fi stab one a dem, and she dead. Mi run go straight to station and mi never give any trouble. A nine year mi get a Fort Augusta, and is 2003 mi come out, and life just rough after that," Bryan said.

The homeless woman told THE STAR that prior to her troubles she lived a fairly independent life and sold clothing items for a living. She said she lost her freedom when she went to prison, and lost her family and friends when she returned.

"When mi come back nobody don't want me a dem place. Mi did a pay rent before mi go but yuh know say mi lose the place. Mi mother dead and gone, but not even she did want mi around her, so this is how mi end up on the street. ... From 2004 until now," Bryan said.

She showed THE STAR a shopping bag which she said contains all her personal belongings. Given the chance, she said she would work her way back to independence but an illness has also slowed that journey.

"Mi get a minor stroke couple years back and it set me back again because mi can't use mi right hand suh good, and mi can't walk so good. For food, I have to depend on the poor relief or people who give the homeless food. Everything is a struggle and mi try mi best to keep to myself and mi nuh take the man dem tings because if yuh take di man dem money, it nuh must end up good," Bryan said.

Yesterday was observed as World Homeless Day to draw attention to the needs of people experiencing homelessness. The day also aims to raise awareness about the needs of people who currently experience homelessness and promote work in local communities to alleviate suffering and prevent death. Bryan dreams of the day when she will no longer be counted among the homeless.

"Mi wah come off a di road like now, and if someone could even employ mi to take care of baby or the elderly mi would do it. Mi go prison but mi is not a wicked person. It is something weh mi put far behind mi and nuh like talk about, but the prison ting hold mi back," she added.