The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has significantly scaled up its Home Assistance Program for the Indigent (HAPI) with a strategic expansion into Briggs Village, transitioning from individual home repairs to multi-household projects. This operational shift aims to dramatically accelerate the pace of home restoration and repairs for vulnerable communities, enabling simultaneous assistance to numerous families rather than proceeding through a sequential, single-home approach.
This scaled initiative has been made possible through an unprecedented inter-agency collaboration. Key government figures including Prime Minister Gaston Browne, Housing Minister Rawdon Turner, Cabinet Senator Michael N. Freeland, and officials from the Social Protection Board have provided foundational support. Notably, the program has also incorporated contributions from the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force, coordinated by Chief of Defence Staff Telbert Benjamin, and Her Majesty’s Prison, where participating inmates are involved in rehabilitation-focused community service.
HAPI’s core mission focuses on critical repairs and improvements to residences of indigent and at-risk citizens, transforming living conditions while serving as a national model for efficient social assistance. Government authorities emphasize that this coordinated partnership framework demonstrates how multi-sector cooperation can rapidly amplify the impact of welfare programs. With the successful Briggs Village rollout serving as a blueprint, officials confirm that similar multi-home projects are being planned for additional communities as HAPI continues its nationwide implementation across Antigua and Barbuda.