The government’s Home Assisted Programme for the Indigent (HAPI) has delivered refurbished homes to two families in Swetes and Hatten, continuing efforts to improve housing conditions for vulnerable residents.
Social and Urban Improvement Minister Rawdon Turner assisted with the handover to Arlene Wilson and her family of 15 in Swetes, and Shamara Thomas and her family of nine in Hatten. The renovations were carried out by teams from National Housing and completed at no cost to the homeowners.
Turner said the programme is focused on addressing poor living conditions regardless of political affiliation.
“HAPI does not recognize colour; it doesn’t matter if you support the ABLP or the UPP. Our mission is to help people to get out of poverty,” Turner said.
He reported that more than 100 homes have been improved through HAPI since the programme began, and said the recent arrival of construction materials will allow multiple upgrades to take place at the same time.
Turner also criticized opposition figures for discouraging participation in the programme, describing such actions as “sad,” while noting that before-and-after photos demonstrate the impact of the initiative.
“Today, we were able to help two families out of deplorable conditions,” he said, adding that one homeowner became emotional upon receiving the keys to her refurbished 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.
