Shelter in Port-au-Prince

My stay in Haiti will be spent at a place called Mathew 25. The best way to describe Matthew 25 is that it is a haven for those who come to Haiti with a desire to help, no matter the background.

Mathew 25 is part of a national organization called the Parish Twining Program of America (P.T.P.A.) which was established by a Catholic priest and his wife in 1978 when the couple got off a cruise ship and were shocked by this country’s poverty. They developed a program that pairs parishes in the US with parishes in Haiti that then work together to address specific needs in agriculture, education, construction and mission work.

The accommodations are pretty basic but made more than comfortable by the warm hospitality of Sisters Mary 1 and 2. The place comes with open air sleeping quarters (with screens), indoor plumbing (with cold running water which feels good in the heat), bottled or filtered water only (had to toss my toothbrush when I forgot and rinsed it in the tap water) and some of the most interesting people from all walks of life. As would be expected, there are plenty of doctors and nurses staying here. There are also electrical engineers, restaurant owners, T.V. producers and college professors and a freelance writer recording her experiences in hopes of educating the world to Haiti’s plight regarding human rights. Most of those who are here come to observe, learn and try to make a difference; one does not have to look very hard for opportunities.

My bedroom overlooks one of the tent cities in Port-au-Prince. It is situated adjacent to the property on what was a soccer field. In comparison to the tents, my quarters are quite palatial. Dr. Don took me on a tour of the tents. As tents go, they are fine. They would be great for an overnight stay or maybe two at some nice shaded campground with a view of a lake, but to live in one for a year or two or three – not so good. Most of the inhabitants stay outside due to the heat on the inside. Cooking is primarily done outside using charcoal from what wood can be scavenged. There is not much vegetation around the city because it is burned to make charcoal – causing erosion and poor soil conditions. During the rainy season the campgrounds become a quagmire – perfect cholera conditions.

It is predicted that many people will be living in these not-so-temporary homes for some time to come – not unlike those that lived in FEMA trailers after Katrina. Which begs the question – is it better to be in a tent or a trailer with formaldehyde fumes? There are now only 70 tents housing some 500 people at this site, down from 170 tents that housed upwards of 500 after the earthquake.

-Jerry Shelly February 2011