Managed, supported and transitional accommodation

Managed and supported accommodation is accommodation for people who need assistance to gain life skills to help them move to longer-term accommodation.  It provides housing for eligible people seeking to move to Darwin and Alice Springs who:

• have difficulty in accessing, maintaining and securing a tenancy
• have difficultly in meeting their obligations and responsibilities under the Residential Tenancies Act and/or
• may have other contributing factors or issues which make them particularly vulnerable in the accommodation environment and need new skills to be able to live in an urban environment.

Without this form of accommodation many would otherwise face homelessness. We are also working with suitable community/non-government organisations to provide Territorians using the facilities with a range of on-site services.
There is also a growing need for people who need emergency and short-term accommodation due to family domestic disputes and drugs and alcohol.  Once again, we are working with suitable community/ non-government organisations to manage and operate short-term accommodation facilities.

The following projects have been completed or are underway in Alice Springs: 

Percy Court, Alice Springs - 28 units

Percy Court is an initiative under to provide accommodation and support services to assist people gain the skills to become successful tenants in private and public housing.  This facility was constructed with funds from the Australian Government as part of the Nation Building – Economic Stimulus Plan.  This facility includes one-bedroom, three-bedroom and four-bedroom dwellings (approximately 75 beds), an administration building, communal facilities, and a playground.  The facility provides accommodation and a range of on-site support services for homeless Territorians or those at risk of homelessness to enhance an individuals’ and families’ ability to access, secure and maintain in either private or public markets. Mission Australia is funded to manage and operate the facility. 

The Lodge, Bath Street, Alice Springs

As part of the Nation Building – Economic Stimulus Plan, the Lodge was redeveloped into a  35-bedroom facility providing short-term supported accommodation for people coming to Alice Springs seeking medical treatment. It is operated through the Department of Health.

Goyder Street, Alice Springs

This facility was funded by the Australian Government as part of the Nation Building – Economic Stimulus Plan.  The Salvation Army, operates the additional eight rooms on their existing premises to provide additional managed accommodation for homeless men.

Apmerre Mwerre Visitor Park

As part of the Alice Springs Transformation Plan, the visitor park provides a mix of units, cabins and camping areas accommodating approximately 150 people a night. This provides a managed accommodation facility for visitors to Alice Springs from outlying areas and remote communities. Aboriginal Hostels Limited manages and operates the facility.

South Terrace, Alice Springs

The Territory Government refurbished an existing Territory Housing facility to provide hostel accommodation of 18 ground level units, manager’s residence, industrial kitchen and dining room, office and training room for Indigenous people travelling from remote communities to Alice Springs to access services. Aboriginal Hostels Limited manages and operates the facilities with operational funding provided by the Alice Springs Transformation Plan.

The following projects have been completed or are underway in Darwin: 

Crerar Road, Berrimah

Construction of Crerar Road was completed in October 2011, under funding from the Australian Government’s Stimulus Package Stage 2. The Territory Government owns the property and leases to Anglicare NT who manage the facility on the government’s behalf. The facility is an alcohol restricted premises and provides approximately 60 beds for Territorians who are homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless. It has a mixture of two, three and four bedroom dwellings, an administration building, a common room, large open sided shelters, gas BBQ facilities and a children’s playground. Crerar Road was officially opened in March 2012 and eligible clients can be referred to Crerar Road through Territory Housing’s Casuarina office.

Women's Shelter, Malak

A new women’s shelter has been built in Malak, through funding from the Australian Government Stimulus Package Stage 2. The facility was offi cially opened on 10 May 2011. The Territory Government own the property, and the Darwin Aboriginal Islander Women’s Service (DAIWS) manage on the government’s behalf, providing residents with long-term independence and life skills to obtain permanent accommodation. The shelter provides approximately 26 beds for Indigenous women and children in need, and consists of eight dwellings of six, two bedroom units, and two, one  bedroom units. Two of the two bedroom units are wheelchair friendly. Each unit has a bathroom, kitchen, lounge area and a private outdoor covered area, making them suitable for small families. Eligible clients can be referred to the women’s shelter through Territory Housing’s Casuarina
office.

Dick Ward Drive, Nightcliff

The Australian Government Stimulus Package Stage 2 has provided funding for the construction of a new facility consisting of 20 two-bedroom dwellings on Dick Ward Drive, Nightcliff. The development will provide approximately 40 to 60 beds for homeless and disadvantaged people. The property is owned, operated and managed by Saint Vincent de Paul.

Acacia Drive, Katherine

The National Building Economic Stimulus Plan provided funding to refurbish an existing Territory Housing property in Katherine to create a facility comprising 8 two-bedroom townhouses with approximately 16 beds. The Acacia Drive property is owned by the Territory Government and is leased to the Kalano Community Association. The Australian Government will provide Kalano with operational funding to deliver the Katherine Regional Extended Aftercare Transition (KREAT) program. KREAT is an additional twelve week residential program for people who have completed the alcohol and drug program at Venndale. The KREAT program aims to give participants life skills, improved health, employment, education and training opportunities along with transition preparation for entering mainstream life. This facility is fully operational.

Additionally, in 2009 five not-for-profit organisations shared $440 000 in funding to provide improved accommodation services to people who are homeless or in crisis:

• The Alice Springs Women’s Shelter for renovations to establish a dedicated interview room and counselling block.
• Darwin Aboriginal and Islander Women’s Shelter for the construction of an outdoor recreation area.
• Katherine Women’s Crisis Centre to construct an additional building to provide amenity for group sessions, children’s room and private interview space.
• St Vincent De Paul Society Bakhita Centre for a renovation and upgrade program to address safety and maintenance issues.
• The Salvation Army to upgrade the Red Shield Hostel to provide day access for homeless people.

More than $680 000 was also provided to not-for-profit organisations to provide accommodation and services for people with special needs and those in crisis:

• Yilli Rreung Housing Aboriginal Corporation to purchase an accommodation unit for an Indigenous men’s transitional support service.
• Somerville Community Services to upgrade two accommodation facilities in Katherine and Nightcliff.
• St Vincent de Paul Society for initial headwork’s for a community housing estate and a volunteer Community Housing Board.
• The Salvation Army for a feasibility concept plan for the construction of transitional housing in Alice Springs.
• Dawn House for major maintenance and upgrade costs for four transitional housing properties.
• Darwin Christian Outreach Centre for the upgrade of rooms at the Berrimah facility.