The TerritoryLabor Government today announced a six-month trial to get vulnerableTerritorians sleeping rough in Darwin CBD into short-term transitionalaccommodation.
The Minister forPolice, Fire and Emergency Services, Nicole Manison, said $170,000 in fundingwould be allocated to Aboriginal Hostels Limited (AHL) to pay for 30 beds at the Galawu Hostel on Finniss Street.
She said whilethose rooms were currently available, people were sleeping on the streetsinstead. This trial will now see those rooms used.
The funding willcome from the $8.9 million Anti-social Behaviour Plan which among a raft oftargeted measures - promised a Better Pathway Centre and short-termaccommodation in the CBD.
Todaysannouncement comes following a review into homelessness which identified ashortfall in short-term accommodation options for vulnerable individuals,particularly in the Darwin area.
The funding willprovide immediate relief to homeless Aboriginal men, women and children, includingpeople visiting from remote communities that have no accommodation options.Individuals will only be accommodated by referral, through Larrakia Nation,City of Darwin or Danila Dilba health services.
It will ensuremore people are off the streets and in safe, suitable accommodation until theyreturn to their community, or until longer-term arrangements can be made.
The TerritoryLabor Government is doing more to address housing issues than any Governmentbefore it. This includes funding the record $1.1 billion, 10-year remotehousing investment to provide additional housing and reduce overcrowding in thebush - improving the quality of life for remote Territorians, and over$169million into public housing stimulus to refresh public housing, and bringold stock back online.
The Departmentof Local Government, Housing and Community Development will continue to workwith other stakeholders to identify additional short-term accommodation optionsacross the Territory.
Quotesattributable to Minister for Police, Nicole Manison:
Todaysannouncement will mean 30 less people will sleep on the streets its a greatresult and helps create a safer Territory and a more vibrant CBD, she said.
Sadly, theTerritory has the highest rates of homelessness in the country. This initiativewill provide stability for our most vulnerable Territorians, especially womenand children, to ensure they are off the streets and in a safe place.
Unlike the CLPGovernment, who failed to invest a single cent into housing, the TerritoryLabor Government is doing everything we can to ensure every Territorian hassafe place to sleep at night. We are investing in tackling homelessness becauseits the right thing to do and the smart thing to do.
