Overview
As part of the coordinated effort to rebuild from Cyclone Winston, the Help for Homes initiative 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 will 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…
o household has an annual income of $50,000 or less;
o home was located in the declared path of Cyclone Winston; and
o home sustained roofing damage in Cyclone Winston.
The first phase of distribution will only target affected homes in the declared path of Cyclone Winston. To determine which areas fall in the declared path, please refer to the map that can be found within page.
Homes located outside of the declared path will not be eligible for assistance until the second stage of distribution. Those dates will be announced.
Homes damaged by Cyclone Zena are NOT eligible for assistance.
Homes that have been rebuilt by donors or NGOs are NOT eligible for assistance.
What if I borrowed money to rebuild my home?
For Fijians who have borrowed funds to begin repair works, white grant forms are available on the Help for Homes website and at distribution centres and Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation district offices.
Grant applicants will be granted up to $7,000 for the cost of repairs. These applications will take additional time to verify and funds will not be immediately issued.
Where can I go to receive an electronic card?
Registration and card distribution will occur at set distribution centres coordinated by the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation commencing on Friday 6 May 2016. A list of all the distribution centres will be published at regular intervals.
Those home-owners from the maritime areas who are currently in Viti Levu or Vanua Levu (apart from Taveuni) will be able to obtain electronic cards from offices of the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation in Lautoka and Suva commencing Monday, 9 May 2016.
For those Fijians currently residing in the maritime areas, an announcement will be made next week on how these recipients can access assistance under Help for Homes.
Government will provide free cartage to recipients from the maritime areas who wish to transport hardware materials to the maritime areas. Details of the shipping dates will be announced next week.
All recipients can start make purchases using the electronic cards beginning Monday, 9 May 2016.
What do I need to do to receive an electronic card?
o Each home must send the home-owner (over the age of 18) to register at the distribution centre (If the home-owner is unable to come to a distribution centre due to ill health, then a representative can be sent to register on their behalf. All representatives must provide:
o written consent from the home-owner;
o the photo I.D of the home-owner; and
o his or her photo I.D.
o Each home-owner must present a form of identification (preferably a Voter Identification Card).
o Each home-owner must create a custom four digit pin to secure and activate the electronic card.
Registration forms can be found within this webpage and will also be available at the distribution centres and at the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation district offices.
All forms must be signed in the presence of Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation staff at the distribution centres.
How much is my home eligible to receive?
o Homes that have sustained damage that are on squatter land or under a vakavanua arrangement, or similar, will receive $1,500;
o homes with partial roofing damage will receive $1,500;
o homes with complete roofing damage will receive $3,000; and
o homes that have lost roofs and supporting walls will receive $7,000.
To view visual examples of damaged homes corresponding to the level of assistance that they are eligible to receive
click here. Please use these examples as a reference to ensure that information on the registration forms is truthful and accurate.
In order to ensure that everyone gets the assistance they need, please help your fellow Fijians by not making any false declarations.
Anyone found to have provided false information in the registration process can be fined up to $20,000 and can face prison sentences of up to 10 years. Spot checks will be conducted by the Ministry of Finance audit teams to verify claims and ensure that benefits are only received by Fijians that meet the criteria for the Help for Homes initiative.
Where can I use my electronic card?
The full list of authorised hardware retailers will be available at the distribution centres along with breakdowns of the maximum prices that can be charged on essential building materials.
Recipients will have the flexibility to make purchases from a number of hardware retailers to take advantage of competition between them. However, only hardware materials may be purchased using the cards (white and electronic goods cannot be purchased using the electronic cards).
Only one card will be issued per home. The home-owner who registers from each household must be the individual who makes all purchases with the electronic card. Every home-owner must also provide photo I.D. when making purchases.
All funds dispersed are to be redeemed by 30 June 2016.
Once goods are purchased they cannot be exchanged. However, defective items can be returned and replaced.
Information and instructions regarding building best practices and standards will be provided to recipients at distribution centres and at hardware retailers. All recipients should collect this information and rebuild their homes and roofs to these standards.
Where can I find more information?
All additional questions should be directed to the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation at helpforhomes@govnet.gov.fj or over the phone:
For iTaukei, Fiji-Hindi & English speakers, please call Neomai Munaf on mobile number 8042278 or Direct Landline: 331 2199
For iTaukei & English speakers please call Jone Melekini on mobile number 998 0322 or Direct Landline: 331 2199
For Fiji-Hindi & English speakers please call Anshoo Chandra on mobile number 990 4055 or Direct Landline: 331 2199
Application forms
Click here to download an application to register for a card
Click here to download an application for register for a grant