Antigua and Barbuda’s transformative Home Assistance Programme for the Indigent (HAPI) has achieved a significant milestone with the completion of 111 homes nationwide, while simultaneously preparing for a major expansion of its construction capabilities. Programme Coordinator Inspector Veldon Raggette announced the initiative’s ambitious plan to escalate from managing three concurrent projects to five simultaneously as resource availability increases.
The government-supported initiative, operating under the Ministry of Social Transformation, specifically targets vulnerable households enduring unsafe and dilapidated living conditions. What began as a volunteer-driven effort has evolved into a comprehensive housing solution that now encompasses both structural repairs and complete reconstructions for properties deemed beyond salvageable repair.
Recent developments have significantly boosted the program’s capacity with Prime Minister Gaston Browne highlighting the arrival of 11 trucks carrying lumber and galvanized materials—the single largest importation of building supplies in the program’s history. This substantial shipment initiates what officials describe as ongoing annual investments directed toward improving housing conditions for economically disadvantaged families.
Social Transformation Minister Rawdon Turner has received a direct mandate to ensure every indigent household receives some form of intervention during the current year. The application process, managed through the Social Protection Board, requires property ownership or notarized permission from landowners. Assessment criteria prioritize structural conditions, household size, and vulnerability levels, with particular emphasis on families with children.
Inspector Raggette identified termite damage and long-term structural deterioration as the most prevalent issues encountered during property evaluations. The program employs a unique construction model utilizing inmates from His Majesty’s Prison alongside volunteers—an approach that simultaneously reduces costs while providing valuable rehabilitation opportunities through construction skill development.
All constructed homes incorporate hurricane-resistant features including straps, clips, and bolted framing systems to ensure durability against extreme weather conditions. Beyond physical construction, HAPI collaborates with the Social Protection Board to deliver counseling and support services, assisting families in maintaining their properties and adapting to improved living standards.
Raggette emphasized the program’s transformative impact, noting that mortgage-free home provision creates immediate equity and long-term financial stability for families previously excluded from homeownership prospects. With identified needs spanning communities including Five Islands, Grays Farm, and Villa, HAPI continues its expansion as a cornerstone of the government’s broader social transformation agenda.
Addressing families still awaiting assistance, Raggette offered both reassurance and realistic expectations: ‘We cannot guarantee we’re coming tomorrow, but we will come.’