The Ministry of Housing and Community Development will soon roll out applications for a newly revamped assistance programme that ensures climate resilient houses in rural and maritime areas.

Ministry of Housing and Community Development Permanent Secretary Sanjeeva Perera said the programme, which was previously named the Rural Housing Assistance, will now be called the Social Housing Assistance Programme.

Mr Perera said the programme was in its final stages of preparations and it would be rolled out this year.

The Government has allocated $1million for this programme. It will help improve housing standards ensuring climate resilient homes in the rural and maritime areas.

“There was a programme that was once called one third to two third programme where the government would put in 1/3 and applicants would put in 2/3,” he said.

“We are moving away from that programme, we are moving into a programme where we will provide assistance for material procurement and transportation of materials to maritime areas.”

“On the understanding and condition the house that they build is at least meeting Category Four cyclone standards.”

“So, to assist our rural and maritime Fijians, we have launched a Category Four house plan which is available on our website, we have the material listing as well in the plan and we have spoken to a number of hardware shops too on agreed prices.”

An announcement will be made soon on when the programme is finalised for roll out.

“Applicants can use the plan we made or submit their own plan which is supposed to be engineered certified to withstand Category Four,” he said.

First Home Ownership Assistance

Mr Perera said Fijians can anticipate the continuous assistance for those intending to purchase their first house or land under the First Home Ownership Initiative.

This was after the Government announced a further $9 million in the 2022-2023 National Budget for the assistance scheme. Since it started in 2014, the ministry had assisted over 3,700 households for both first home and first land assistance.

“The initial idea was to help the government with building houses,” he said.

“Every month we will keep paying people, applications are open. We pay to the banks and it is considered a payment to their loan.”

He added that applications were open and Fijians who meet the requirements could apply through its website or visit the Ministry of Housing Office at 33 Gorrie Street, Suva for more details.

Disability Assistance

Mr Perera has also confirmed that the Disability assistance under the ministry would continue this year.

“This is not for building houses but for those that want to upgrade certain areas of their house for easy accessibility,” he said.

“If you want to do a ramp, bathroom or whatever, the maximum assistance here is $5000. You must have a house and we will help you further.”

“We will soon make announcements on when the assistance for this financial year will open.”

He said the ministry assisted 58 applicants in the last financial year and had paid out close to $200,000.

He said the ministry has been allocated $250,000 for this initiative in this financial year.

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