A simple, unusual home By George Henry, Freelance Writer IT IS the dream of every Jamaican to own his 'own home.' But many encounter difficulties doing so. Mr. Francis is from Morgan's Forrest near Alston in Clarendon. He found his way into the Manchester town of Christiana where he has been living for over three months. It's not a proper home but a home for him anyway. He's created a simple cosy pad at the bus stop in front of the Christiana Post Office. Residents of the area refer to Mr. Francis as 'Mad Man', but according to him that is not the case. "A lot of people have been running from me thinking that I am a mad man. God could not give me my five senses and I put it to madness. It is just somewhere to really live why I am here and because I am living here (bus stop), why they believe I am mad," explained Francis. HOUSE WOES Francis explained that his house woes began shortly after his father died during Hurricane Gilbert in 1988. He pointed out that his sister, who lives in St. Catherine, went to Morgan's Forrest, buried their father and gave the two-apartment board house to one of his uncles instead of allowing him to live there. "I told her she should not give the house to 'Uncle Gabby' because I will not have anywhere to live and she pull it down. I had was to go to the Spaldings Market to live for many years, helping the people to carry their load and they pay me so that I could be able to buy food and some of the other things I need." Francis said the lessee of the market, Mr. Hyman, told him he could stay at the facility. But things turned and management was replaced. He was subsequently evicted. He then had to find temporary accommodations until he finally ended up in the bus stop at Christiana. MORE PROBLEMS The seemingly sensible Francis noted that after he was driven out of the Spaldings Market he became ill with hernia. He said he began feeling severe pains and had to do an operation immediately. This operation cost $10,000 which he could not find. So, he asked someone to write a letter, seeking contributions from the residents of Mandeville. The response was overwhelming. "I am grateful to the people who assisted me, especially those who are from Mandeville. They gave me most of the money and for that I love them," said the grateful Francis. He said it took him only 11 days to collect the well-needed funds in an effort to save his life. He also expressed gratitude to Member of Parliament, Audley Shaw, whom he said assisted him during his illness. LIFE THE SHED Francis noted that after successfully undergoing the operation at the Mandeville Hospital, he still did not have anywhere to live. So he went straight to the bus stop. "I sleep in here the first night and I smell pure stink mess and when I wake up in the morning I see mess all over the place including human being mess and dirty water. There was also broken bottles and other waste in here." Through his 'quick thinking', he washed out the abandoned facility with disinfectant and began to make it home. Francis, who believes in making his surroundings beautiful, told The Gleaner that when he started to live at the bus stop there was a small abandoned flower garden on one side of the facility. He said he got busy and started giving the location a well-needed face lift. The establishment of another garden, with flowers and some food kind, including peas, came about. Francis noted that persons who pass by the bus stop have since shown respect to him for the work he has been doing in keeping the area clean and neat. He said passers-by give him money to purchase food and other amenities. "Even the police and the ladies at the post office love what I have been doing in keeping this place beautiful and clean," he said. Francis stated that before he went to the bus stop it was not being used due to the filth which was there. Since he began living there persons have started to use it, but they have not been molesting him, he said. He noted that it was not only for his own purpose he cleaned out the facility, but that persons who needed to stop there for shelter could do so without having to turn up their noses. The floor of the facility is covered with cardboard which Francis takes up whenever it rains. He noted that after the rains the water which normally blows in is wiped up and his cardboard is spread again. "I take them up and put them on the bunk until the rain is over. Then I bend down on my knees and dry up the water and spread back the card board." He said the bus stop is being treated like any normal home where it is swept and wiped and polished to keep it looking beautiful. Francis who does not intend to live at the facility forever is appealing to the public to assist him in finding somewhere to live. He said if someone could assist him with a one-room apartment, he would be very happy because he believes that living there could one day become dangerous despite him not being molested to date. He pointed out that if anyone offers him somewhere to live he would willingly leave the spot. However, according to him, if he leaves he would return to take care of the garden which he has established, because the area should not be allowed to return to its former state.
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