Parliament heard this week that the HART (Housing Assistance Relief Trust) comes under the Fiji Council of Churches (FCC) and is a charitable organisation that was established in 1972.
Responding to questions on why visitors were not allowed to visit occupants of the HART residences, Housing Minister Premila Kumar said she could not answer the question because HART came under the care of the FCC.
She told Parliament that families who lived in these facilities were single mothers with dependent children, the elderly and people with special needs.
“In fact, they are running nursing homes at the HART to look after those individuals who cannot look after themselves or the families have actually neglected them because of medical reasons.
“Rent charges for HART tenants are dependent on their weekly income and this can vary from subsidised rates ranging from $1 to $10 per week.”
She told Parliament that rent payment for all HART residents had been put on hold from March 20 and this would continue during the COVID-19 pandemic.
FCC president the Rev Tevita Nawadra said he was not able to comment as he needed to clarify the information with the HART board.
