A transformative housing initiative reached its pinnacle in Five Islands this week as the Home Assistance Programme for the Indigent (HAPI) delivered a comprehensively renovated residence to a family exceeding twenty-five members. This landmark project represents the most extensive undertaking in the program’s history, showcasing unprecedented collaboration between government agencies and private sector partners.
Programme Coordinator Inspector Veldon Raggette emphasized the complex logistical planning required for the large-scale renovation, noting that the restoration aimed to provide both dignified living conditions and functional infrastructure for the substantial household. The comprehensive overhaul featured significant structural enhancements and the strategic installation of multiple bathroom facilities to address privacy concerns and improve daily functionality for all residents.
Kings Casino emerged as a key corporate contributor by funding and outfitting the home’s bathroom installations. Raggette highlighted this partnership as exemplary of the effective public-private collaborations that have become instrumental to HAPI’s operational success.
The program operates under the strategic direction of Prime Minister Gaston Browne within the Ministry of Social and Urban Transformation, led by Minister Rawdon Turner. Raggette extended recognition to Social Protection Board Coordinator Mary Baltimore, numerous volunteers, corporate sponsors, and rehabilitation participants from His Majesty’s Prison who contributed construction labor.
During an emotionally charged handover ceremony, family members conveyed profound gratitude for their revitalized living environment, expressing confidence that the enhancements would foster greater household stability and comfort. This achievement underscores HAPI’s core mission of securing safe housing for vulnerable populations while demonstrating the power of community cooperation in addressing critical social needs.