Minister for Housing Maciu Nalusima has announced a new pilot housing assistance program aimed at helping more than 600 households that have been evicted from informal settlements across Fiji.
Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Mr. Nalusima said the initiative falls under the government’s ongoing First Home Ownership Program, which has already helped thousands of Fijians purchase or build their first home since its launch in 2014.
“The First Home Ownership Initiative has been one of government’s most flexible programs to support Fijian families into secure and dignified housing,” Mr. Nalusima said.
“Since its inception, the initiative has enabled thousands of households to either purchase or construct their first home. It has been reviewed and strengthened over the years to ensure it remains responsive to the needs of our people, particularly those in the low and middle-income brackets.”
The Housing Minister said the new pilot program specifically targets families evicted from informal settlements, many of whom face severe hardship and uncertainty after losing their homes.
“The reality is that informal settlements have long provided shelter for many low-income families who, due to affordability constraints, have been unable to access the formal housing market,” he said.
“When evictions occur, whether on state, freehold, or private land, families are left in highly vulnerable circumstances — often without a clear pathway to secure tenure or affordable housing.”
