Twenty-three families from the Veidogo Settlement in Vatuwaqa, Suva, will be relocating to the Makosoi Development Estate in Deuba, following the Cabinet’s endorsement of a memorandum of agreement between the Ministry of Housing, the Housing Authority, and Habitat for Humanity Fiji. This initiative aims to address housing needs for vulnerable communities.
The Veidogo Settlement, which spans approximately 4.5 hectares, has been under scrutiny since April 2024, when the Ministry of Housing conducted a survey to assess the number of households present, identify families who had received eviction notices, and gauge their financial readiness for relocation. As part of the broader strategy, options for relocating additional families from the settlement are also being explored.
The Cabinet’s recent decision comes alongside efforts to review the National Gender Policy of 2014, aiming to promote gender equality and remove barriers related to gender in all development facets. This revised policy is expected to guide gender equality work over the next five years, emphasizing critical areas such as health, leadership, and gender data.
The ongoing government initiatives reflect a commitment to not only provide secure housing for affected families but also address larger housing instability issues that threaten many households in Fiji. These comprehensive efforts across various settlements indicate a proactive approach towards improving living conditions for the most vulnerable populations.
Through these initiatives, there is hope for a brighter future as families transition to more stable housing situations and begin to experience enhanced community welfare in their new environments.
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