Acknowledging that a significant number of Barbadians are falling on hard times, the social services minister revealed on Monday that the numbers seeking welfare help have skyrocketed from 3,000 to 8,000.“We are now seeing a greater number of people being put out. A significant number of people are coming for help because they have been thrown out of the house they have lived in either by a family member or by the landlord who is now requesting the rent payments,” Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Kirk Humphrey told a radio audience on Voice Barbados’ Down To Brass Tacks.“The numbers that we dealt with at the Welfare [Department] during COVID have almost doubled. Traditionally we are dealing with 3,400. At one point we were at 6,600. The most recent count of persons that we are seeing now is about 8,000 persons,” disclosed Humphrey who came on the programme following complaints from some callers about the treatment meted out to them at the department.
