The program will be centred on Darwin, Casuarina and Palmerston.

The Minister for Health Natasha Fyles said Territorians deserve safe, vibrant and inclusive communities and the Housing Accommodation Support Initiative (NT HASI grant) helps to deliver that.

“The four year funding will support people suffering from ongoing mental illness to maintain their tenancies in public housing across suburbs in Darwin, Casuarina and Palmerston,” she said.

“The program will target people aged 16 to 64 years and will initially focus on those who are case managed by Top End Mental Health Services.

“Services will be shaped to be individualised, holistic, integrated, culturally responsive, safe and flexible.”

Anglicare NT’s Executive Manager of Community Care & Access, Terry Cleary said this is an exciting opportunity to work in partnership with the Council for Aboriginal Alcohol Program Services (CAAPS) Aboriginal Corporation, the NT Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and Top End Mental Health Services (TEMHS) to provide support for people with mental illness living in public housing.

“We are honoured and privileged to be given this opportunity to engage in such a significant way in the lives of people living with a mental illness, to be a part of their inclusion and participation which ultimately is all about making a better community for everyone,” he said.

“People living with mental illness are at significant risk of experiencing adverse social and economic outcomes and are more likely to experience homelessness and housing instability. They also face significant barriers to their full participation and inclusion in their community.”

Mr Cleary said Anglicare NT has a history of providing tenancy support services to people living in public housing throughout the Territory and are also a long term providers of mental health and personal wellbeing services for young people in Darwin through headspace Darwin.

“The NT Housing Accommodation Support Initiative gives Anglicare NT the opportunity to provide a wraparound service that will support people with a mental illness to maintain successful tenancies and participate in their communities,” he said.

The new initiative will be evaluated and led by the NT HASI Steering Committee consisting of senior staff from the DOH, TEMHS, DHCD, NT Shelter, NT Primary Health Network, the Northern Territory Mental Health Coalition and consumer representation.

Planning for the services is already underway and referrals are expected to be accepted from early next year.