Fijians living in informal settlements could soon have a clearer path to home ownership through a new housing grant scheme spearheaded by the Housing Authority in partnership with the Ministry of Housing.
Under the initiative, individuals relocating from informal settlements to Housing Authority-developed subdivisions will be eligible for government grants of up to $30,000.
The funding is designed to cover both land and housing costs, easing the transition into formal home ownership.
Housing Authority Acting Chief Executive, Poasa Verevakabau, outlined the scheme during a submission to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.
He explained that while most property buyers qualify for grants of around $15,000, the new package for informal settlers doubles the support, providing a combined land-and-house solution.
“Ministry of Housing is working on a special scheme for informal settlement, where when they buy, the $30,000 applies to them,” Mr Verevakabau said.
“In this case, there is a product that has been prepared as a package, land and house. So for informal settlement, they will get around $30,000 as a grant.”
The announcement has generated strong public interest, with many prospective homeowners making inquiries about the scheme.
In addition, the Housing Authority launched a new loan package in June offering reduced interest rates for low- to middle-income earners.
Those earning below $30,000 a year can now qualify for home loans with a two per cent fixed interest rate for the first five years, rising to a variable rate of four per cent thereafter.
For households with incomes between $30,000 and $50,000, loans are available at a fixed rate of 3.5 per cent, moving to a six per cent variable rate.
The dual approach—combining larger housing grants with low-interest loan packages—marks one of the most targeted efforts yet to improve housing affordability and security for Fijians, particularly those moving out of informal settlements.
