Government Renews $6M Housing Support for First Homeowners

Apia, SAMOA – 08 September 2026 – Affordable loans at 5 per cent interest rates are helping first-time homeowners and large families build, improve and extend their homes through the Samoa Housing Corporation.

The Government’s unprecedented $6 million Housing Assistance Scheme in Financial Year 2025/26, enabled 97 Samoan families to build or purchase their first homes, or improve and extend their existing homes, marking an important step towards safer, healthier and more affordable housing across the country.

The Scheme fulfils a key commitment in the Government’s manifesto to expand access to affordable housing, ease financial pressures on families and improve overcrowded living conditions.

Implemented through the Samoa Housing Corporation (SHC), the Scheme also supports Samoa’s broader national development priorities under the Pathway for the Development of Samoa, including improved family wellbeing, social inclusion and sustainable national development.

97 families from Upolu and Savaii supported through the Scheme
The full $6 million allocation was distributed through 97 approved housing loans:

• 54 families received assistance to build or purchase their first home; and
• 43 large families received assistance to renovate, improve or extend their existing homes.

These results demonstrate the strong demand among Samoan families for affordable housing finance. Many successful applicants were new customers who had not previously been eligible for a loan from SHC but were able to qualify through the Government’s 6M grant facility assistance.

The Scheme has also enabled larger families to address overcrowding and improve their living conditions by renovating and extending their homes. SHC has observed significant improvements in the quality, safety and suitability of homes supported under the programme.

Affordable loans at 5 per cent interest
Government assistance is provided through affordable housing loans carrying an interest rate of only 5 per cent per annum under two lending categories:

1. Personal Guarantee loans of up to $50,000; and
2. Freehold land-secured loans ranging from $50,001 to $250,000.

These concessional lending arrangements is making housing finance more accessible and affordable for eligible Samoan households, including families who may otherwise have difficulty obtaining finance under standard lending conditions.

A further $6 million approved for 2026/2027
Building on the successful implementation of the Scheme, Parliament has approved a further $6 million under the Main Budget for the 2026/2027 financial year.

The renewed funding demonstrates the Government’s continuing commitment to delivering its manifesto promise of extending the benefits of affordable housing to more families across Samoa.

The assistance will also help achieve the PDS2 vision, which is grounded in the AIGA concept. The AIGA concept includes amongst many, a focus on economically secure and healthy households.

The Scheme is intended to continue throughout the Government’s current five-year term. With ongoing Government funding support, many more eligible families are expected to gain access to affordable finance to build, purchase, improve or extend their homes.

SHC will begin accepting new applications once the additional funding has been formally released to the Corporation.

Members of the public are encouraged to monitor the Samoa Housing Corporation’s official website and public announcements for confirmation of the application opening date.

Further information may also be obtained by visiting the SHC offices in Apia or Salelologa, Savai‘i.