The government-administered Home Assisted Programme for the Indigent (HAPPI) delivered a second renovated home on Saturday, bringing renewed hope and dignity to a family of nine in the Hatten community.

The beneficiaries, Shamara Thomas and her family, were presented with their newly improved home following extensive renovation works carried out by teams from the National Housing division. The transformation was stark, with before-and-after photographs highlighting the programme’s impact in converting substandard living conditions into a safe and stable family home.

Social and Urban Improvement Minister Rawdon Turner used the occasion to underscore the core philosophy of HAPPI, stressing that the programme is rooted in fairness, inclusion, and national responsibility.

“It’s very important for people to understand the work of HAPPI,” Minister Turner said. “HAPPI is determined to help poor people in this country, and it does not recognize colour or political affiliation. It doesn’t matter if you support the ABLP or the UPP—our mission is to help people get out of poverty. There are still pockets of poverty in this country, and we are committed to addressing them.”

Caretaker for the area Michael Joseph told Antigua.news that the initiative represents far more than bricks and mortar.
“This is not just about building a house,” Joseph said. “It’s about transforming lives and investing in our people’s future.”
He added that true national development must include deliberate efforts to uplift the most vulnerable, ensuring they are equitable beneficiaries of the country’s growth and progress.

The latest handover in Hatten continues HAPPI’s broader mission to restore dignity, stability, and opportunity to disadvantaged families across Antigua and Barbuda—reinforcing the programme’s role as a critical pillar in the government’s social development strategy.