THE NEXT PART OF OUR JOURNEY

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Viewing the House

To recap...in March 2020, we were allowed the use of a house for our group home but we could not proceed with anything... the pandemic lockdown was just about to begin.

We had to be patient to wait out this inconvenience.

However, during windows of opportunity to visit the house, we did, that is, in between periods of government restrictions on people’s movements due to rising covid-19 cases.

When we were able to be on site to view the inside and the compound of the house, a semi-detached building; we realized we were facing a monumental task to make it into a suitable and safe place for our adult children to live in.

The house was very run down and towering over it was a huge wild tree that has taken root in the compound. Its roots were deep and far reaching, and its branches sprawling and overhanging to the ground.

     

       

     



With our limited knowledge about house structure, we had thought that we only needed to renovate the original house, as well as cut and uproot that huge tree, clear and clean the compound which had looked like a mini jungle. And of course to furnish the house before our adult children could move in.

Financial Need

The task was monumental to us for the work had to be financed, and we did not know then where to source for the money.

Then in March 2021, a non-government organisation (NGO) had approached us to offer assistance to apply for federal government grant. The NGO made a group submission of our working paper together with that of other centres, to the federal ministry. Unfortunately, to date there had been no response from the ministry.

We were left in a quandary again!

The months passed on by quickly, while the house remained abandoned and the undergrowth which we had cleared earlier had started to grow back.

How long more can we wait?

By the end of 2021, it was already 5 years since the day we first met in the cafe in 2017. So much had happened during that time including the death of two parents, and the serious illness of another.

We had to proceed as we cannot afford to waste more time.

Decisions

We decided to borrow from one of our families to go ahead with the work. Although the loan came from her retirement money meant for her old age, she had willingly offered to lent it so that the group home can become a reality. She is almost 70 years old herself but was not hesitant with providing the loan.

A contractor builder was engaged to view the house structure, and unfortunately it was deemed very unsafe, with a sunken floor, a ceiling that was splitting and falling apart, exposing rusty bars within, among other parts that were also not in good condition.




It was necessary to demolish the house and rebuild a new one for long term safe use.

By December 2021, we had to decide quickly to begin the work on the house as prices of hardware materials were going up in January 2022 due to the current economic situation.


The next post is a report on the demolition, clearing and construction work, with pictures of the progress


"What is a Group Home?" 

"What are Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities?" 

"Where are we as a Community towards People with Disabilities?"

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