Demanding and abusive people looking for cheap housing are causing problems as they chase Cayman’s stock of mobile homes earmarked for the post-hurricane needy.
That’s the claim of Cayman Islands Recovery Operations Temporary Housing Office Administrative Assistant Twyla Vargas, who says it is not the genuine hurricane-hit people who are putting pressure on housing staff.
‘The majority of those complaining are not people that have lost their homes in Hurricane Ivan. They just want to change from a $900 or $1,000 rent to a $600 to $700 one,’ she said.
‘I feel that the people who go into the trailers should be carefully scrutinised to see that they are genuinely in need of a trailer because their property has been destroyed by the hurricane; not because they just want to change their apartment for one with a cheaper rent,’ she said.
Ms Vargas makes her allegation as the second batch of mobile homes comes closer to being ready for occupancy.
More than 80 of the homes have been brought in from the United States since Hurricane Ivan battered Cayman nine months ago.
A Temporary Housing Board was set up to handle and prioritise applications and families were quickly housed in the first batch of about 30 homes, says Ms Vargas.
‘I was very happy after the first batch because my heart just went out to some of the people,’ she said.
‘But after the first batch came in and everyone saw the trailers and saw they were a bargain, everybody wanted one.
‘I started to notice that applications began to change and instead of coming from people who needed a trailer because their house was damaged, they wanted a trailer because it would mean a cheaper rent,’ said Ms
Vargas.
‘Most of the applications began to come from people here on work permits and just wanting cheap accommodation,’ she said.
Ms Vargas said hundreds of applications have come in for the homes and many people have been pressuring the housing office, which has closed for applications.
‘One person wanting to get into a trailer actually gave notice and moved out from where he was living before he even knew he was going to get one,’ she said.
‘Things started out as a favour trying to help people the best way we can, but then some people started to become demanding and abusive,’ she added.
‘The ones that are causing trouble and hollering and screaming are the ones that just want a cheaper rent.’
Ms Vargas, who said the government has done a wonderful job in helping the homeless, said one of the things delaying occupation of mobile homes is connections to water, electricity and septic tanks.
‘If I was responsible for getting them connected I would have had them all done by now,’ said Ms Vargas.
‘We have been relying on the Public Works Department to do the major work and it’s all too much,’ she said.
‘I feel the work could have been done fairly quickly if it was contracted out because PWD, who have tried their best, have got their hands full.
‘I want to see that people get into the homes as quickly as possible.’
Ms Vargas said she recently checked the trailers on the Bodden Town site and they are now connected to water and septic tanks and are just waiting to be hooked up to electricity and inspected.
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