More people sleeping rough and experiencing homelessness in Alice Springs will have access to vital services and support thanks to a new Northern Territory Government partnership with Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation to deliver assertive outreach services.
The new partnership will see Lhere Artepe funded $720,000 over two years to address immediate safety concerns for individuals experiencing homelessness and to better support their long-term health and housing outcomes.
The funding will provide for additional staff and enable an intensive level of integrated support including referrals to existing services and emergency accommodation.
The partnership will mean Lhere Artepe can more easily identify where individuals are sleeping rough in Alice Springs and support their needs including relocating them to safer locations and transitional accommodation or facilitating Return to Country programs.
Lhere Artepe has a track record of delivering outreach services such as the funded Ranger Program, and this new program is expected to identify the reasons that lead to homelessness and provide referral pathways to other services to help address these.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Urban Housing, Ngaree Ah Kit:
“The Northern Territory Government is proud to partner with Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation to support those experiencing homelessness in Alice Springs.
“When life gets tough and people find themselves without safe and secure accommodation, programs like this will be there to help them back on their feet and into accommodation and support.
“We intensively support people experiencing homelessness and this partnership is designed to identify those in most need, ensure their immediate safety, and provide support to improve their health and long-term housing outcomes.
“As representatives of Arrernte Traditional Owners who have custodianship of the lands where rough sleeping is prevalent, Lhere Artepe shares our Government’s dedication to comprehensively address homelessness in Alice Springs.”
Northern Territory Government
