Desperate mother of 5-month-old seeks shelter

Growing up, Jane* had big dreams of becoming a chef, but now at age 25, homeless, and having to care for her five-month-old son, those hopes seem far away.

Her life has been a series of unfortunate events, which started when she was 16. Jane told THE STAR that she got pregnant at 16 after being raped by a man in her community. She wasn't able to finish high school.

When she was 18, Jane said that her mother asked her and her 15-year-old brother to leave their home because she was in a new relationship and needed privacy.

"Mi madda use to treat wi bad, like she would eat food and we nuh eat none, or she she only feed we one time a day. But she start talk to this man and him tell her to put we out," she said. "It hurt because yuh madda a di person weh supposed to protect we but she never care bout wi, she never love wi." She said that after being forced out of the home, she started working, getting $3000 a week. But her living arrangements were far from ideal.

"I would stay with a church sister, mi never have somewhere to stay for myself, so mi kotch wid people and sleep weh mi coulda sleep," she said. Due to her situation, she had to put her two-year-old son up for adoption, a decision she still regrets.

"I was so sad, I couldn't stop crying but mi never have nothing. Mi couldn't tek care a him but mi sorry, mi really sorry mi give up mi baby," she said. Jane subsequently moved to Kingston from Hanover and started working as a janitor at a dental office. She was even able to rent a room for herself in an inner-city community for $1500 and started literacy classes at HEART/NSTA Trust. However, she was left homeless again when her landlord made sexual advances.

"Him tell mi seh if I had sex wid him I would not have to pay the $1500. But I didn't want to have sex with him and him talk seh him would a burn up mi things if I do not have sex with him," she said. The dwelling did burn to the ground but Jane was able to escape.

Back on the street, Jane later met a man who gave her a place to say at his parents' house. She got pregnant for the man, and had to stop working and attending classes. But the home was only a temporary haven. She told THE STAR that although the child's father has never hurt, his mother abused her emotionally and physically, so she left.

"She deal wid me bad. She also come in a di room and provoke me, she cuss mi, call mi b***h, dutty gyal all dem things deh, and when she ready, she all fling things off a mi and mi just cah deal wid it. But mi nuh know weh fi duh," she said. "Mi feel depressed right now, mi nuh know weh fi duh. I don't have any subjects and I cannot read that well."

The desperate mother said that she just wants to be able to provide and care for her baby.

"Mi love mi baby, a him alone mek mi happy and mi nuh wah afi give him up. Mi just want a better life fi me and him. I don't want to give him up like how mi give up mi other son," she said, crying.

Gender Minister Olivia Grange told THE STAR that significant progress has been made over the years to put systems in place to help women escape abusive situations, and create better lives for themselves and their children.

"We have shelters now and they are well secured and equipped to cater to women and their children. The environment is therapeutic. We have counsellors. We offer legal services. We have trainers who have developed various programmes to help women earn and become financially independent," she said, adding that no one should remain in an abusive situation.

"Any of us could become a victim of domestic violence, but none of us should stay in that situation. There is help. So, my sister, take that step. Call or text us and we will help. Remember the numbers: 876-553-0372 and 876-236-1713."

*name changed to protect identity