Repeated sewage overflows, structural water damage and unresolved maintenance requests have made homes unsafe, residents of the National Housing Corporation’s Grotto housing complex said on Wednesday, despite promises of urgent intervention after years of complaints.

Despite living in the state-provided units since 2017, the tenants told Barbados TODAY that conditions have deteriorated to an unbearable state, creating persistent health hazards and financial strain.

For several residents, the problems centre on chronic plumbing issues that cause raw sewage and wastewater to back up directly into their living areas. A second-floor dweller detailed how excess wastewater from upper units routinely flows down into her living quarters, creating hazardous, unsanitary conditions.