The Home Assistance Programme for the Indigent (HAPI) has completed 111 homes across Antigua and Barbuda and is preparing to scale up construction to five projects simultaneously, according to Programme Coordinator Inspector Veldon Raggette.
Speaking on the Government in Motion programme on Monday, Raggette said three homes are currently under construction, bringing the total number assisted since the initiative began to 111, with additional builds in progress.
“We are stepping up,” Raggette said, noting that the team intends to move from managing three projects at a time to five in the near future as resources increase.
HAPI, which targets vulnerable and indigent households living in unsafe or dilapidated conditions, began as a volunteer-driven effort before evolving into a government-supported initiative under the Ministry of Social Transformation.
Raggette explained that while the programme initially focused on repairs, it has since expanded to include full reconstruction for families whose homes are beyond salvage.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne recently described the arrival of 11 trucks of lumber and galvanized materials as the single largest importation of building supplies for the programme at one time. He said the shipment marks the start of continued annual investments aimed at improving housing conditions for poor and vulnerable families.
Social Transformation Minister Rawdon Turner has been given a mandate to ensure that every indigent household receives some form of intervention this year, Raggette said.
Applications are processed through the Social Protection Board. Applicants must own the property or provide notarized permission from the landowner. Homes are assessed based on structural condition, household size and vulnerability, with priority given to families with children.
Raggette said termite damage and long-term deterioration are among the most common structural problems identified during assessments.
Construction is carried out primarily by inmates from His Majesty’s Prison, alongside volunteers. Raggette described the partnership as both a cost-saving measure and a rehabilitation opportunity, allowing inmates to learn construction skills while contributing to community development.
He said the homes are reinforced with hurricane straps, clips and bolted framing to ensure durability.
Beyond physical construction, the programme also works with the Social Protection Board to provide counseling and support services to beneficiaries, helping families maintain their homes and adjust to improved living standards.
Raggette described the initiative as more than a housing project, arguing that mortgage-free homes provide immediate equity and long-term financial stability for families who previously had limited prospects of home ownership.
With needs identified in communities including Five Islands, Grays Farm and Villa, officials say HAPI will continue to expand as part of the government’s broader social transformation agenda.
“We cannot guarantee we’re coming tomorrow,” Raggette said, addressing families living in unsafe conditions. “But we will come.”