A Westbury man who spent more than eight months living in a collapsed, roofless house without electricity or running water is set to receive a new home after demolition crews cleared his Pounders Gap property on Tuesday.
The intervention ended a distressing ordeal for the 59-year-old, who was exposed to the elements without basic utilities.
For two consecutive hurricane seasons, Austin remained in a desperate situation inside the partially caved-in family property where he has lived since 1995. The structure had deteriorated over the years before severe storm damage caused a catastrophic collapse, leaving the house fully exposed to the elements.
With no electricity or running water, Austin slept on a floor mattress covered by a plastic tarp to shield himself from heavy downpours. During the worst storms, he wore a raincoat inside the ruin to get a few hours of rest. Water frequently flooded the ground, destroying almost all of his belongings and furniture, leaving him with little more than the clothes on his back.
Relying on his daughters for meals because he had no cooking facilities, he often had to seek shelter elsewhere when rain made the dwelling uninhabitable.
The turning point came after public appeals drew attention to his living conditions. Housing minister Chris Gibbs and officials from the Urban Development Commission visited Pounders Gap to survey the land and assess the damage. While initial surveys were done earlier this year, the arrival of heavy machinery marked the start of the reconstruction promised by the ministry.
Heavy equipment demolishes the partially collapsed home of Westbury resident Terry Austin. (Photo Credit: Ricardo Roberts)
Crews demolished the remaining structure, clearing the lot so contractors can move ahead with laying the new foundation and completing the build.
Speaking to Barbados TODAY at the site as heavy equipment cleared debris, Austin expressed relief that the long wait for assistance had ended.
“I feel really, really, really good, man. Really good,” he said as he watched the crew work. “My main thing was just getting the house started on that. The gentleman talked to me this morning, and he was telling me that they can start and go right through to the end.”
Addressing his current living arrangements, Austin confirmed that temporary housing had been secured while construction takes place on his family lot.
“I’ve got somewhere to stay for now, hopefully till the duration of the house being finished,” he explained. “That shouldn’t be a major problem. The house was the major problem that needed to be solved, and it’s being solved now. I really appreciate it.”
Reflecting on the loss of his possessions and his gratitude toward Gibbs for pushing the project forward, he added:
“I’m very grateful because he came through. Everything was moved out already — well, there weren’t many belongings left because the rain destroyed everything. But now that they have started, I know they are going to finish it.”
With demolition completed, contractors are expected to remain on site to carry out construction from start to finish, ensuring Austin finally receives the secure shelter he has awaited for months.
(RR)
