Struggling dad begs for help

Last August when Portland resident Rajah Brown spoke with this newspaper, he said he was in a dark place and was in dire need of assistance for him and his two-year-old son, Joaquin.

After the publication of his story, the 25-year-old single father said he received a bit of assistance, but not enough to land him on his feet.

"When the article came out, there were persons that would call and pray for me, and some would buy me phone credit. Some people would give me a little groceries, and so on. Others were saying that I am a man and should go and work," he said.

Brown said he is now facing homelessness after he was given notice from the house where he is living. He said that he was given notice because he owed outstanding rent.

"Mi and mi son basically homeless because the people dem say dem want dem place, because others persons will rent it. I owe about three months rent. Is $25,000 for the rent and I live there more than five months. It really hard because I don't know what I am going to do. I really owe the rent, so I don't blame them; but mi just a wonder what it a guh do," Brown said.

Brown has been highlighting his plight via social media platform TikTok. He said his struggles has caught the attention of quite a number of sympathetic hearts. However, the number of persons sending him money has been steadily decreasing, and a lot of persons are urging Brown to seek a job to care for his toddler. However, according to Brown, while he would want to be fully independent, he is unable to secure meaningful employment as he has no one to take care of little Joaquin.

"Now that I am struggling and basically homeless, people a tell mi say mi must send mi son come live with them and mi visit him every two weeks. I can't do that as a parent. I don't know some of these people from anywhere. I don't know their backgrounds or if they are child molesters, so that is why I can't work, because I don't have anyone to keep him and I can't afford day care," Brown said.

"Sometimes because mi ask for help, people make it look like I am a sinister person, but I am not. Mi cry a lot because sometimes tears is the only language mi know, but some people just look at mi like mi is a wutliss dirty dog. I have a real child, so all mi a do is try invest in a small business and take care of my son. Mi don't invest inna clothes, so mi just a beg people to just put themselves in my box and see what is happening. Mi just in a bad state now; and trust mi when I say that I don't want to humiliate myself and beg," Brown added.

Persons wishing to assist Brown may contact him via telephone at (876) 790-2279.