All except four of the 115 families (671 individuals) displaced during the recent storms have returned to their homes.
Three families are living with relatives and one remains at the emergency shelter at the Catholic Church Hall in Fagatogo, the only shelter which has not been closed.
Director of Human and Social Services Muavaefaatasi John Suisala said in his report at today’s cabinet meeting that these four families have been offered the option of temporary rental housing paid for by the government.
They will receive three months of paid rent along with paid water and power.
The families have also been given their ASNAP and disaster food assistance vouchers from Gita for the months of November up to February and they will continue to receive these monthly vouchers up to September.
The families have also been referred to the Development Bank of American Samoa for assistance in rebuilding their homes.
One of the families whose homes was destroyed will rebuild their home with help from their children off island.
The others have taken up offers for the three month rental assistance with utilities all paid for.
The family staying at the Catholic Hall in Fagatogo declined an offer to move to the DHSS shelter in Tafuna for the time being saying that it is far from their work and children’s schools.
The family asked for a rental home in the vicinity of their home and DHSS is now seeking a rental home for them.
All these families have been given their ASNAP and Disaster Food Assistance vouchers for November to February.
