SUVA, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Fiji government has introduced a housing assistance program for people with disabilities, according to Fijivillage news website.

Fiji's Minister for Housing Premila Kumar said in parliament on Wednesday that a housing assistance program was introduced in the second half of the 2018/2019 financial year.

Kumar said that a policy framework has been administered by the Ministry of Housing in partnership with the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation and Habitat for Humanity Fiji.

She highlighted that according to the 2017 census by Fiji Bureau of Statistics, 13.7 percent of Fijians aged 3 and above are reported to be living with some form of disability.

These policies are aligned to the Rights of Persons with Disability Act 2018, which safeguards people living with disability and the right to an adequate standard of living, she said, adding that new applications can be made to the Department of Social Welfare or with Habitat for Humanity Fiji that acts as the secretariat.

Habitat for Humanity Fiji will visit the homes to ensure they are suitable for habitation before making a recommendation to the selection committee for approval.

Kumar said that the applicants must be registered with the Disability Unit of the Department of Social Welfare.