A 63 year old mother of 9 and her grandkids will soon be moving into their brand new, two story, five bedroom home. The Mesopotamia family was living in deteriorated conditions after hurricane Lisa in 2022. But the Ministries of Human Development and Housing stepped in. The PUP standard bearer, Lawrence Ellis also stepped up. He told us more today.

Lawrence Ellis, PUP Standard Bearer, Mesopotamia
"The Ministry of Housing through the collaboration with Human Development saw the need for this family to be assisted because of their living condition that was actually here and so the human development department through the ministry decided to build this house."

Reporter:
"This is an incredible home, it's nothing like the starter homes. Why did you guys go with this one instead of one of the starter ones?"

Lawrence Ellis, PUP Standard Bearer, Mesopotamia
"Well the size of the lot was a factor and it's not one person living in the home, it's three families actually and so the only way was to go up. This is the first of its kind, it's a beautiful house, it's very comfortable if you see the inside. The people of Mesopotamia should be proud and they're going to see more of this to come."

"Upstairs has three bedrooms and downstairs has two bedroom units. They have their own bathrooms. We actually put fridges and stoves in all of them so it's a little extra."

"I as the standard bearer, after I win next year, we have great plans to do housing in Mesop. Mesop cannot go out, it can only go up because we don't have enough space so we're looking to build more proper homes in Mesop."

Paula Thomas, Recipient
"When the hurricane came, Lisa, it destroyed my house with everything."

Reporter:
"Like the entire house collapsed?"

Paula Thomas, Recipient
"Well it wasn't so collapsed but it was in a bad state so it had to change."

"Praise to the Lord for everything, that's the only person you can depend on. He blessed us with the people that helped to develop to get my house."

"I have 9 kids and I have 16 grandchildren."

Reporter:
"All of them live here?"

Paula Thomas, Recipient
"Yes they live with me. Not up here, that's why I made them divide downstairs because that's how the first house was."

Reporter:
"How were you guys managing before?"

Paula Thomas, Recipient
"Well I was living on that side over there. I went through a lot living on that side but I always call Jesus and my God always looking to me. But I appreciate whatever I get and I thank my God because my God is always there for me."

"It doesn't have any light right now but I will move in because I need my home."

The UDP has held the Mesopotamia seat since the 70's