Twenty-six women who lost their husbands to crime or disasters are being assisted by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security in collaboration with Food for the Poor Guyana Incorporated to construct homes and relocate to new areas.

Administrative Assistant of the Ministry’s Difficult Circumstances Unit, Colleen Roberts during the registration exercise at Cornhill Street said the ministry had responded promptly to the families who were in need of shelter by approaching Food for the Poor for assistance, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

And she commended the organisation for its assistance since it has pledged to provide houses for the families.

Food for the Poor Project Manager, Andrea Benjamin said her organisation remains committed to the construction of homes for families in need of shelter. She told the women that the organisation continues to seek ways to empower them and the homes are being provided to ensure they have shelter for their families.

GINA said that the houses will be wooden structures measuring 20 feet by 15 feet and the women will have to provide sanitation facilities and other amenities since Food for the Poor cannot afford to do so.

Benjamin urged the women to occupy their houses and maintain the structures since the organisation has been investing millions of dollars to construct houses.

The Ministry of Human Services over the past months has been assisting families affected by disasters with the allocation of house lots through the housing ministry, GINA added.

In 2008, Food for the Poor provided 12 houses to several families who had been left homeless following the collapse of a dilapidated structure in Smyth and Hadfield Streets.