“This is more than just building a home. It’s about restoring dignity, creating opportunity, and investing in the future of our people. Building a stronger society means ensuring that those who need support the most are equitable beneficiaries in our country’s growth and development.”
ABLP Caretaker for St. John’s Rural West, Michael Joseph, made the remarks as two families in Swetes and Hatton received newly rebuilt homes under the government’s Home Assisted Programme for the Indigent (HAPI).
The programme saw severely compromised structures demolished and rebuilt from scratch, providing safe and improved housing for Arlene Wilson and her family of 15 in Swetes, and Shamara Thomas and her family of nine in Hatton. The construction work was carried out by teams from National Housing and completed at no cost to the homeowners.
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Minister for Social and Urban Transformation Rawdon Turner assisted with the handover of the homes and said the programme remains focused on addressing poor living conditions and ensuring support is provided based on need.
“HAPI does not recognize colour; it doesn’t matter who you support. Our mission is to help people to get out of poverty,” Turner said.
The handovers were marked by emotional moments, with one homeowner becoming overwhelmed upon receiving the keys to her newly rebuilt house.
Coordinator of the Social Protection Board, Mary Baltimore, working alongside HAPI Coordinator Inspector Veldon Ragguette, described the presentation of two homes in a single day as a significant milestone for both the families and the agencies involved.
