The Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation has helped 5,387 families through their Home Care Initiative from this Monday.

These families are from Ra to Sigatoka and Labasa whose houses or household items were damaged in the recent floods during cyclones Josie and Keni.

The cost was around $7.1 million dollars.

The Ministry is looking at having this in operation for about one month.

Minister for Women, Mereseini Vuniwaqa says they have also found that some people who are not eligible for the Home Care have lined up to claim the assistance.

Vuniwaqa is urging people not to lie on their statutory declaration that people need to sign when they apply for Home Care.

She says if people make false declarations, they can be prosecuted - as an audit will be done to look at cases where there have been allegations that applicants have lied on their form.

Vuniwaqa says if they are found guilty, they can be fined $20,000 or face 10 years imprisonment.