Many of us take having a home for granted.

It’s a feeling Semu Tuato wants to have. 

Sadly, he shared that relocating from one place to another is costly because he cannot afford to build a home.

The unemployed father of five from Falelauniu lives with his cousin. He is seeking assistance for a home because incomes of two working people in his family do not cut it.

They don’t have stable water supply and electricity connection. 

“I have three children who are in school and it is hard to budget and try to save money to fix our house. Two of my children work to provide for our family and all the other obligations that we have.”

“This house is really old and we have been living here for just two years before we move out again to look for somewhere else to live.”

“We are always moving from one place to another and as a person who has been called to lead this family, my family is a priority to me.”

“This house was owned by one of our relatives but they have moved overseas which is why we are staying here and we are also responsible for fixing all of the damages,” said the 53-year-old.

Speaking to the Village Voice team, he says they had to move away instantly because the house was no longer safe to live in.

“These iron roofing we are now using to reconstruct our home are old and rusted. It is hard to look for money to rebuild this house and we have nowhere else to live.”

“One of the other families’ that we know is the ones who gave us some of these woods and other materials so that we could fix the damage.” 

“Nothing that we are now using to build the house is new, they are all second hand. We just have to live within our means,” he said.

Mr. Tuato says the life that we live in require money and that is the reason he used to work. The problem is that everything has become costly and the income they receive is not enough.

“We just want to have a place that we could live in. The house that we are staying in at Nuu-Fou is an extension from my cousin’s house.

“Everyone is growing up and I want my children to be safe. That is always my main concern.”

For anyone who is willing to help Semu Tuato, please contact the number 7222228.