The Ministry of Social Development (Mides) in Uruguay has pledged to provide emergency housing for a Cuban couple with a ten-year-old child and two Venezuelan individuals who lost their home in a fire on Wednesday.
The two-story house, which served as a residence on the upper floor and a storage for cleaning supplies on the lower floor, was located at the corner of José Scoseria and Pedro Francisco Berro in the Pocitos neighborhood of Montevideo, where the fire broke out.
Emergency Support and Future Opportunities
Lorena Jones, director of the Ministry of Social Development's Migrant Department, told El País newspaper that the affected individuals will receive emergency housing and food assistance. Additionally, they will have the opportunity to apply for a pilot project aimed at migrant families in Montevideo, which could grant them a $20,000 rent subsidy, Jones revealed.
Lexis Molino, a Cuban national, recounted that he, his partner, and their son had been living in the house for a year along with two Venezuelans. Molino, who works as a delivery driver, said he was resting at home after dropping his son off at school when the fire forced them to flee.
"I heard an explosion and looked outside, thinking it was a trash can that someone had hit," he said. However, he quickly realized something was wrong when he noticed "the air outside felt different." Upon checking the hallway, he saw smoke had already filled the house and had to grab his wife and find a way to the rooftop, Molino recounted.
According to firefighters, the blaze started on the ground floor, where cleaning products were stored. The Cuban family had been in Uruguay for a year and eight months.
"We lost everything; the only thing I managed to save was my phone because I had it in my hand at that moment. We were planning to move soon and had withdrawn money from the bank," Molino lamented.
Now, the family can apply for the pilot project, funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which is in its initial phase and has not yet opened applications to the general migrant population. However, migrants currently enrolled in Mides programs for homeless individuals can apply immediately.
To qualify, families must collectively earn at least the minimum wage. While the subsidy is provided by the Ministry of Housing, families are responsible for covering utilities such as water, electricity, and common expenses.
Assistance for Migrant Families in Uruguay
This section provides answers to common questions about the support available to migrant families in Uruguay, particularly in emergency situations like the recent fire in Montevideo.
What kind of assistance is Mides providing to the affected families?
Mides is providing emergency housing and food assistance to the affected families. They will also have the opportunity to apply for a pilot project that offers a $20,000 rent subsidy.
How can migrant families qualify for the housing subsidy?
To qualify for the housing subsidy, families must collectively earn at least the minimum wage. They must also cover utilities such as water, electricity, and common expenses out of their own pocket.
When will the pilot project be open to the general migrant population?
The pilot project is currently in its initial phase and has not yet opened applications to the general migrant population. However, migrants already enrolled in Mides programs for homeless individuals can apply now.