BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Oct. 1, 2015–Despite the plea of the Smith family to the Lake I area representative Mark King for assistance to help them to rebuild a house to replace their house that was destroyed after it collapsed on Friday morning, no assistance has yet been given, and the family of four continue to face hardship.

       The house of the Smith family, of Electric Avenue, a one-flat elevated lumber house, fell to the ground, causing massive structural damages to the house, and destroying the furnishings it contained.

       Joanie Smith, the mother of the family, told Amandala that everything in the house, with the exception of their clothing, was damaged as a result of the collapse. She is unemployed and needs public assistance in trying to re-construct their home, and also for immediate living expenses, she said.

       Joanie Smith can be contacted at 631-3552 by members of the public who wish to donate, or they can see her at the corner of Mahogany Street and Western Avenue.

       Smith told us that Prime Minister Dean Barrow had announced that money had been made available to help people repair and build homes under the Poverty Alleviation Project.