After living in squalor for many years, Joan Wilson has had enough and has taken a bold move to come forward with her story and seek the public's help.

The mother of two lives in a one-bedroom section of a large house on Waltham Park Road and told THE STAR that the conditions are far from ideal

Basic amenities

She shares this small space with her two children, age 14 and six, and lives without the basic amenities many people take for granted. A section of the property is used as a lumber yard and warehouse and many tenants share the dwelling.

Wilson has no electricity or piped water and told THE STAR "Most time mi haffi ketch up bucket an pan or mi bring wi dirty clothes go all di way over to Spanish Town at my sister's house, so dem can get washed."

When she is lucky, her neigh-bours use extension cords to share their electricity with her, but this is only done in special circum-stances. In all other instances, she is forced to live without electricity. She lamented that the place was being slowly taken over by rats and cock-roaches, putting them at risk.

House of her own

Wilson is interested in buying a house of her own and she told THE STAR that she has been trying to secure a loan from the National Housing Trust. Even though she qualifies, she is unable to start the transaction because she does not have the required deposit.

Her job as an office cleaner only pays $12,000 per month and this is just enough to cover her rent and living expenses for herself and her children. She said, " Mi a tell u di truth, everywhe mi go fi borrow, mi can't get it. Mi even go to mi own credit union and mi couldn't get it from dem.

'Tired of living like this'

If I could even get a $200,000, I would try and hustle to get the rest and I can prove that is the house I want the money for. I am tired of living like this."

She added "I was seeking somewhere to rent but all the places would cost more than my pay. There would be no money for my children or for food."

She pleaded, " Bwoy, mi family nuh have it, so dem can't really help mi. Right now, a big part a di roof cave in and (Hurricane) Dean did mash up di roof. Dem did try fix it and di man wha go up there drop through di roof. Mi a fret bout di hurricane season because it leak a lot when rain fall."

Anyone willing to help Wilson may contact her at 487- 0524.