Minister for Housing, Premila Kumar has clarified in parliament that a housing assistance programme has been introduced for people living with disabilities.
The programme was introduced in the second half of the 2018/2019 financial year.
Kumar highlighted this after she was asked by Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Alipate Nagata to update parliament on housing assistance that is available to people living with disabilities.
Kumar says that a policy framework has been administered by the Ministry of Housing in partnership with the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation and Habitat for Humanity Fiji.
She highlighted that according to the 2017 census by Fiji Bureau of Statistics, 13.7% of Fijians aged 3 and above are reported to be living with some form of disability.
Kumar says these policies are aligned to clause 46.1 of the Rights of the Persons with Disability Act 2018 which safeguards people living with disability and the right to an adequate standard of living.
She says applications can be made to the Department of Social Welfare or with Habitat for Humanity Fiji that acts as the secretariat.
Habitat for Humanity Fiji will visit the homes to ensure they are suitable for habitation before making a recommendation to the selection committee for approval.
The Minister stresses that the applicants must be registered with the Disability Unit of the Department of Social Welfare.
When asked by SODELPA MP, Mikaele Leawere what is the turn around time for applications, Kumar says this will depend on whether the applications are submitted on time and that there are also other assistance programmes that are accessible to anyone.
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