May Pen family seeking help to escape hardship

For the past 10 years, Janell Morgan and her family have been struggling under deplorable conditions at their May Pen, Clarendon home.

When it rains, water flows freely through their two-bedroom board house from all sides. In addition to battling the watery discomfort, their home is also infested with pests, which adds another layer of misery to their lives.

"It horrible, the condition is very bad. When it rains, it comes in from both the top and the bottom because, it is not like they did not dig a foundation or anything; the block was just laid on some cement. On top of that, the house is infested with the rats," said Morgan, in explaining her destressing situation. "The condition of the house is very poor. Yuh can stay from outside on the road and see inside."

Due to the appalling condition of their home, Morgan's younger sister and her two-month-old niece were removed from the home by the Child Protection and Family Services Agency, leaving the 26-year-old Morgan and the other family members behind to fight the terrible conditions. Morgan is now seeking the assistance of the public to help her complete a one-bedroom structure, which she has started, but is facing challenges to complete. She is determined to create a more secure environment for herself, her mother, her sister, and her niece.

"Mi grow up in a state care and mi nuh want that fi mi sister. So, I am trying my best to break the generational curse," Morgan told THE STAR, adding that between the ages of five to 14, she lived in state care because her mother lacked the financial resources to care for her and her siblings. Morgan said that she is very concerned about her sister's mental state, as her niece was taken from her at two months old, and the two have not been reunited.

"The baby need her mother, and from them tek the baby mi nuh get fi see the baby. Because every time mi try to visit her, it nuh work out fi some reason or another," said Morgan.

Morgan told the news team that she and another 21-year-old sister are the main caregivers for her 59-year-old mother, who has had two strokes. As a result, Morgan, who is qualified in customer care and early childhood education, has had to settle with working as a bartender so that she can have more time to care for her mother.

"It really hard because mi mother cannot take care of herself. So somebody has to be with her 24/7 and a me and mi sister afi a duh everything. Nobody else nah help wi. So mi would a really appreciate some help suh mi can get mi sister home," said Morgan.

Persons wishing to assist Janell Morgan can donate to her NCB savings account No. 564646970 May Pen Branch