By Felix Lesinaivalu
A YAQONA farmer in Taveuni was rewarded for his hard work and investment into the Rural Housing Assistance (RHA) Programme which will see him own his first home.
Alivereti Latianara from Bouma Village was thankful for the assistance from Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development for coming up with the program that will help him improve his life.
“I would also like to give thanks to the lord, who gave me the strength to fulfil this aim of mine to own my first house.”
Mr Latianara managed to get his $8,000 through his yaqona farm that he has to walk for two hours every day to access.
He added that though hard work and determination “you can overcome any obstacle to achieve your dreams”.
The Rural Housing Assistance (RHA) Programme was established to provide affordable housing assistance to support the housing needs of rural and maritime communities.
The programme prioritises assistance to those that are permanently residing in villages and rural settlements, in non-urban and peri-urban areas.
There are four housing schemes offered under the RHA Programme.
The RHA was allocated $3 million in the 2024-25 National Budget and it is aimed at promoting safe, resilient, adequate and affordable housing for the rural and maritime areas; thus reduce the disaster risks for vulnerable communities.
Mr Latianara applied for scheme two which requires the applicant to pay one third (1/3) contribution in cash while the Ministry foots two third (2/3) of the total project costs.
The scheme is targeted at individual applicants.