214 applications for Housing Authority COVID-19 relief packages

The Housing Authority of Fiji has so far received 214 applications for its COVID-19 relief packages.

CEO Robert Sen says about 70 percent of the applications have been processed.

He says a few applications have been declined because of incorrect information and documentation but they have written to these customers to provide further information so their applications can be reviewed.

Sen says of the 214 applications they have received, 147 are from the Central Division and 67 are from the Western Division.

He says majority of the applications from the Western Division were from affected workers in the Tourism Sector.

Sen adds their COVID-19 assistance was for customers who have lost their jobs, are on reduced hours or leave without pay for a certain period of time.

He further says most of the customers have applied for deferring of repayment for three months while a few have changed the contract whereby the loan repayment can be extended and a few have also opted to pay interest only for 3 months.

Sen says obviously this will have a strain on Housing Authority's cash flow as these customers' repayments have been deferred for the next three months.