The Government of Antigua and Barbuda is set to deliver 53 more homes to vulnerable local residents this year under the Home Advancement Programme for the Poor and Indigent (HAPPI), Prime Minister Gaston Browne announced, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to improving housing security for the nation’s most vulnerable citizens.

Prime Minister Browne made the announcement in the context of a series of recent HAPPI interventions in communities such as Swetes, Hatton, Parham, and other communities, where families have already taken possession of newly constructed and refurbished homes under the programme.

The HAPPI initiative, launched by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, aims to provide safe, affordable, and dignified housing to poor and indigent citizens who lack adequate shelter. Through the programme, eligible families receive either newly constructed homes or essential building materials to repair and improve existing structures.

In addition to new home construction, the Government recently secured a major shipment of building materials valued at over EC$1 million, which will support repairs and upgrades for qualifying households throughout the year. Prime Minister Browne described this delivery as “the largest amount of building material imported for this purpose in the nation’s history,” and emphasised that it marks the beginning of sustained investment in housing.

Minister for Social and Urban Transformation Rawdon Turner has underscored the programme’s inclusive approach, stating that HAPPI interventions are non-partisan and focused solely on need, with efforts underway to ensure households in the most precarious living conditions are prioritised.

The expansion of HAPPI forms part of the government’s broader social protection and people-centred development agenda, which aims to strengthen communities, improve living standards, and foster social inclusion. Investments in housing are seen as critical to these goals, not only for the physical security they provide but also for the social and economic empowerment of participating families.

As the programme scales up its delivery this year with 53 homes slated for completion, government officials and residents alike have highlighted the importance of safe, stable housing as a foundation for improved quality of life.

The HAPPI initiative continues to be a central pillar of the administration’s strategy to address poverty and enhance well-being across Antigua and Barbuda.