The Permanent Secretary for Housing, Manasa Lesuma, has revealed that they are trying to address the issue of shortage of homes with relation to the First Home Ownership and First Home Construction programmes.
While presenting the Ministry's 2018–2019 Annual Report to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Lesuma says there is high demand, but the funds allocated to the programme are never fully used.
Insert: Lesuma on houses, 29th Jan 26
When questioned by Committee member Aliki Bia if he meant that there were no homes available on the market, Lesuma revealed that they simply did not have enough homes.
He says the Housing Authority is now not only selling land, but also building homes and making them available to the public.
The Permanent Secretary adds that their assessments have also shown an increase in informal settlements, a classic example being those coming from Labasa with expired leases, now living along Cunningham Road.
Insert: Lesuma on Vaka-vanua, 29th Jan 26
Lesuma says they have realised that although they target those earning less than $50,000, the banks are only serving those at the upper end of that threshold.
He says those earning between $30,000 and $50,000 are being served by the banks, but those earning less are being left out.
Lesuma highlighted that they are working to re-modify their policy so that targeted interventions can help those on the lower end of the threshold.
He says many of those living in informal settlements fall within that category, and they are hopeful the revised policy will be approved by Cabinet.
