A Caymanian family of seven say they are days away from “pitching tents on the beach” after being left homeless and unable to find an affordable place to stay.
Over the last month they have slept in cars, borrowed money for hotel rooms and huddled in a one-bedroom flat provided by a charity. Now the married couple and their five children have been left with nowhere to go.
The 33-year-old mother says it is impossible to find anywhere within their price range that will accept a family of this size. Collectively, she and her husband earn close to $3,000 a month – too much to qualify for government support, but too little to afford a place to stay.
“They’re saying that we have no financial shortfall … but there’s seven of us and the cheapest two-bedroom we can find is $2,700,” she said. “Right now, I don’t know where we are going to sleep from one night to the next. We’re ready to go and pitch our tents on the beach and hope the government will step up.”
Her five children are aged between 9 and 14.
Most recently, the family had found some stability living with her husband’s parents. But since that arrangement came to an end three weeks ago, they have been unable to find anywhere they can afford.
Her husband’s salary as a mechanic and her own stipend from government – as a student in cosmetology school – barely cover the grocery bills. She is close to graduation and the prospect of a regular pay cheque but is tempted to drop out and take whatever work she can get to cover the bills.
“If [the government] could just give us a little help till the end of November. After that we could figure it out. Our government is reactive not proactive. They want to wait till you fall flat on your face before they will help.”
The Department of Financial Assistance does provide rental help to those who are struggling. For families of seven or more, the maximum earning threshold to qualify is $4,000 a month or $4,000 in savings.
However, she received notice from the department that she did not meet the criteria for rental support. She has appealed the decision and is awaiting a response. In the interim she has been unable, in any case, to find a place that would be willing to take Financial Assistance clients with multiple children.
“Nobody wants to rent to a family with five kids,” she said.
Non-profit ARK, along with and friends and family, have helped out. Now government is temporarily funding a hotel room. But she still has no clarity on whether they will get support longer term.
A constant struggle
She acknowledged life had been a struggle since she had her first child at 16, but says she has always worked and has never relied on government support. Now, as housing costs have rocketed, it has become impossible to get by in Cayman, even with the support of her partner.
“It’s like government turns a blind eye, and when everything hits the fan and we’re homeless, they look at me like, ‘Why do you have all these kids if you can’t take care of them?’” she said. “I’ve never had support from government and I am not asking them to take care of me or maintain me, just help me for a few months to get over this bump.”
Her case highlights gaps in the system. For instance, the rental support provided by government appears to be “all or nothing”. There’s no partial support on offer for those who can pay some but not all of their rent.
“It would be easier to get support if we weren’t working at all,” she said.
A more practical challenge is that there is no help to find housing. There are few properties available that are affordable so landlords can be choosy about who they rent to. The family has been willing to cram into a one-bedroom flat, funded by ARK, over the past two weeks, but strata rules don’t allow that kind of arrangement long-term. Even landlords with three-bedroom homes have refused their applications, telling her there are too many kids.
“Why doesn’t the government just build their own apartment complex and use that to house people? Give us restrictions, give us rules – save money, get on your feet, and then you have to find somewhere for yourself,” she said.
A further challenge is the hard reality for large families in Cayman as prices at stores have surged. There’s no equivalent of the UK ‘Child Benefit’ scheme which provides monthly stipends to the primary carers of children to help them meet basic needs.
‘Just surviving’
In Cayman the payments would likely need to be higher but it could be a tool that helps parents keep a roof over their children’s heads and keep them in school.
“I’ve never got the chance to live life. I’ve just been surviving,” she said. “I want to finish school, start my own business, and build something so my kids don’t have to beg like I have to do.”
Tara Nielsen, of ARK, expressed support for a child-benefit style system. The charity is also seeking donors to expand its transitional housing options and build new town homes in West Bay for families who can’t find anywhere to stay.
Nielsen said she is personally familiar with the family in this case and praised the mother as a hard-working, dedicated parent who would do anything for her kids.
“It is so hard right now for anyone to keep up with the cost of living. With five children it is almost impossible. Some families are always going to need a little help.”
The Department of Financial Assistance did not respond to questions from the Compass.
If you can help this family contact ARK here , or donate directly here, with the note ‘housing family’.