Catholics help Habitat for Humanity to distribute shelter kits

Habit for Humanity has been assisted by the Catholic diocese of Suva and the Adventist relief agency to distribute emergency shelter-kits.

Habitat for Humanity Fiji has provided more than 1000 families with emergency shelter-kits in the Northern Division.

The non-profit organisation served 500 families in the Province of Bua last month reaching out to Wainunu, Nadi and Kubulau districts.

They have assisted 700 families from 20 communities in Taveuni Island.

An emergency shelter-kit includes items such as tarpaulins, ropes, buckets, mosquito nets, solar lanterns, spades, hand saw, shovel, machete, binding wire, roofing nails, pinch bar, bending wire, hammer and other small items.

Since cyclone Winston hit Fiji Habitat for Humanity Fiji has reached out to more than 3000 families as a whole with emergency shelter-kits.

This involved distribution of emergency shelter kits in more than 150 communities in Viti Levu, Vanua Levu and Ovalau.

Who are Habitat for Humanity?

Habitat for Humanity Fiji is a non-profit organisation founded in 1991.

It is a member of Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI), founded in 1976 to eliminate poverty housing.

Habitat for Humanity Fiji builds and repairs homes for low-income families and is one of the biggest single entity housing providers in Fiji next to government.

They believe every Fijian family should have access to their basic right to adequate housing in the most practical and cost-effective way.

The Help for Homes initiative

The Fiji Government has established the Help for Homes initiative  to help people who have not received help from donors or NGOs.

In a number of villages, Catholic schools have been used as a meeting place for local people to meet the Help for Home teams.

Help for Homes is designed to give affected households the resources they need to rebuild their damaged homes, including roofs, to withstand severe weather events.

Homes that have sustained damage from Cyclone Winston can be issued electronic cards that can be used at selected hardware retailers to purchase materials to rebuild.

Households are eligible to receive assistance if the…

  • household has an annual income of $50,000 or less
  • home was located in the declared path of Cyclone Winston
  • home sustained roofing damage in Cyclone Winston.

The first phase of distribution targeted homes in the declared path of Cyclone Winston.

Homes located outside of the declared path will not be eligible for assistance until the second stage of distribution. Those dates will be announced.

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News category: Asia Pacific.

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