The Antigua and Barbuda government is significantly scaling up its flagship housing initiative, with plans to deliver 53 new residences to vulnerable citizens within the year. Prime Minister Gaston Browne announced this expansion of the Home Advancement Programme for the Poor and Indigent (HAPPI) following a series of recent home handovers in communities including Swetes, Hatton, and Parham.
The HAPPI program operates through a dual approach: constructing new housing units from the ground up and providing essential materials to renovate and repair existing substandard homes. In a major boost to this effort, the administration has procured building supplies valued at over EC$1 million, described by PM Browne as the largest single shipment of construction materials ever imported specifically for the program. This investment is earmarked for nationwide repair and upgrade projects.
Emphasizing the equitable nature of the initiative, Social and Urban Transformation Minister Rawdon Turner stated that HAPPI assistance is allocated solely based on need and is strictly non-partisan. Assessment prioritizes households enduring the most precarious and hazardous living conditions.
This housing expansion is a central component of the government’s broader social protection agenda. Officials confirm that the program’s overarching goals are to elevate living standards, enhance housing security, and foster stronger, more resilient communities throughout the twin-island nation.