A single mother of five and her children received a newly constructed three-bedroom home at Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara (WCD), on Wednesday, in a Christmas initiative led by First Lady Mrs Arya Ali, against the backdrop of what observers describe as a deepening housing crisis in Guyana.
The beneficiary, Ms Teasha Spellen, is now a first-time homeowner after previously living with relatives alongside her five children, aged three to 14. All of the children are currently attending school. Prior to receiving the house, the family shared a single bedroom, a situation that posed daily challenges.
The new home, valued at approximately $14 million, includes the cost of land development, fencing, construction, and furnishings. It was made possible through the Office of the First Lady, with support from Courts Guyana, Comfort Sleep and Guyana Breweries.
During the handing-over ceremony, the first lady reflected on her own upbringing in a single-parent household and underscored the importance of providing a stable environment for children.
“This new home provides you with a safe, stable, and dignified environment to ensure all of you have a better quality of life, and your children have a brighter future. I was raised in a single parent home so I know of some of the challenges. But today you and your little ones have a place to call yours, so I want you to recognize how blessed you are,” Mrs Ali said.
The First Lady also encouraged Spellen to continue prioritising her children’s education and to support their future endeavours.
Visibly emotional, Spellen described the home as “life-changing” and expressed gratitude to all who contributed to the initiative.
“First of all, I want to thank God Almighty for this new home. And I want to say thank you to the First Lady and everyone who made this possible for us. This is life changing for my family because we’ve had it very, very hard,” she said, before breaking down in tears.
Ms Spellen said she plans to move into the home immediately so that her family can spend Christmas there. She also shared her intention to use the remaining yard space to establish a kitchen garden.
While individual interventions such as this have provided relief for some families, Guyana continues to face a significant housing shortage. Critics note that despite the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) having governed for 28 of the last 33 years, there has been no significant improvement in comprehensively addressing the national housing crisis, particularly for low-income and vulnerable households.
The latest handover marks the fourth home Mrs Ali has delivered to families in Region Three since assuming the role of First Lady, highlighting her continued focus on assisting families in vulnerable situations, even as broader concerns about housing policy and long-term solutions remain unresolved.
