25 homes offered to domestic violence victims in new NT community housing pilot
Dozens of domestic violence survivors and their children will soon get a ‘lifesaving’ opportunity to rebuild their lives. Here’s how the new Territory-first housing program works.
Northern Territory
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A new housing program launching in the Territory is set to provide a lifeline to dozens of women and children fleeing domestic violence.
The NT government has given $2.125m to two community housing providers, one in Darwin and the other in Alice Springs, which will offer affordable long-term housing to victim survivors.
The Top End provider Community Housing Limited is funded to provide 17 furnished Darwin homes to women and children in need, with the first keys being handed over this month.
Each home will be subleased from the private market with the tenants – prioritised by need – to pay just a portion of their rent.
The remainder is subsidised by the grant, commonwealth rent assistance and CHL – which is a not-for-profit group managing more than 11,000 homes across Australia.
The families will also have access to specialist support at Darwin crisis shelter Dawn House.
CHL Northern Territory business development manager Brad George said the unique model would help families rebuild their lives after escaping domestic violence.
“As an initial upfront solution to help people who are in this situation, to get some economic independence, the private rental market is probably the only solution available,” he said.
“It’s not free housing, they’re still paying, but it gives them an opportunity in a vulnerable position to be able to enter the private rental market.”
Mr George said the model, which is running as a pilot program until 2025, would not impact the rental income of landlords.
“We’re saying to them ‘now would you like to do something that’s great for vulnerable people?’ and we’re doing that without them being unable to pay their own mortgage,” he said.
While Mr George said much more was needed to fill the Territory’s housing need, the program would be a “lifesaving measure” for those 17 Top End families.
“If we were a stand-alone country, we would we would have the highest rates of homelessness in the whole of the OECD, which is a terrible statistic,” he said.
“This is just the beginning of the impact that CHL can make in the Northern Territory.
“We are committed to deliver more affordable housing in the region for those who need it the most.”
The remaining $680,000 of the government grant will go to the Central Australian Affordable Housing Company, which will provide eight homes under the same model in partnership with Women’s Safety Service of Central Australia.
Housing Minister Selena Uibo said the program allowed victim survivors to establish a rental history, which would significantly help them gain full independence.
“This is a critical partnership between housing and domestic violence services that has the potential to make an extraordinary difference to survivors,” she said.
Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Minister Kate Worden said it would allow victim survivors to recover with safety and dignity.
“Domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness in the Northern Territory,” she said.
“This is an innovative program that will provide targeted support to people who are living through domestic violence.”
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