MANDEVILLE, Manchester — A Manchester mother of three was overcome with joy last Friday when Prime Minister Andrew Holness presented her the keys to her new home just in time for Christmas.

Naderia Wood, a resident of Campo Street in New Hall (south of Mandeville), said she and her children ages 23, 13 and seven lived in poor conditions.

“Right now I am so elated and excited, words cannot express how I feel. This is like a dream come true. I couldn’t ask for anything more. My living condition was not good — it was a [wattle and daub] house,” she said as tears of joy filled her eyes.

Wood, who received a three-bedroom house, was one of five beneficiaries presented with keys by Holness in Manchester last Friday.

She recalled the moment Manchester Central Member of Parliament Rhoda Crawford informed her that the house was going to be constructed.

“When she [Crawford] called me that afternoon I was so out of this world because I feel so excited. I really couldn’t believe that I was going to have a house for myself, to be honest with you. We are going to have the best Christmas ever this year because my kids are going to have somewhere to sleep comfortable now without the cold biting them from the Christmas season. I couldn’t ask for anything better,” she said.

Crawford explained that Wood was recommended by former Member of Parliament Peter Bunting for the social housing programme years ago.

“I came on a site visit because I wanted to do my own assessment and make sure that the beneficiaries were deserving. And when I came I met Ms Wood, and when I saw the condition and I met her children we were just happy that she was one of the persons who would have been recommended before my time,” said Crawford.

Crawford added that political allegiance was not a factor.

“Because of the politics that I practise and what our party leader [Holness] ensures that we practise, it is a bipartisan [approach],” said Crawford.

“Just seeing the sacrifice of a mother [Wood], I am so touched and I am so surprised that the house could have been built in a record time — about two months,” she added.

Further, Holness said Wood met the criteria to benefit from the New Social Housing Programme.

“Naderia has three children and she is a single mother. We have heard people say, ‘Mi want one [house] too, Mr Holness. Me, me, me should get one too,’ but I am happy that the beneficiary has gotten her home. And that is the essence of [the] HOPE programme; the modality of [it] is the New Social Housing Programme that everyone who is in need can have faith that their need will be addressed because they have seen that someone that is equal or worst off, their need is also being addressed,” said Holness.

When asked by Wood’s seven-year-old daughter if her family could move in immediately, Holness said the Government prioritises assisting the indigent to have better living conditions.

“We are working assiduously to ensure that all the young ones who are having faith, having hope that their houses can be built, so that they can move in,” he said.

“I am working throughout Christmas to see as many of them [houses] that I can turn over… I am going full force and I am hoping that contractors are hearing this and that they themselves will move with speed and alacrity,” he added.