Housing Horrors in the NT lie under the radar

 

 

 

Today’s release of the 2010 ACOSS Australian Community Sector Survey demonstrates that vulnerable Territorians are suffering because community organisations are under-resourced.

 

The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) Survey found that in the Northern Territory, these organisations are simply unable to meet the demand for their services. Most worryingly, 77% of all those people turned away were seeking housing and homelessness services.

“There is a housing crisis in the Northern Territory” said Wendy Morton, Executive Director of the NT Council of Social Service today. “Working Territorian families are finding it harder and harder to get suitable housing. Meanwhile, the most vulnerable people in our community – those with mental health issues, and those with substance misuse concerns, people with disabilities – suffer under the radar.  

“The situation is critical and continues to deteriorate” said Ms Morton. “The government must take decisive action to assist these disadvantaged and vulnerable Territorians.”

 

The ACOSS survey indicates that the community services who work to assist those with housing problems and other difficulties are at breaking point. Average staff turnover in these organisations across the NT runs at a staggering 52%.

 

Community organisations in the Northern Territory struggle to attract and retain quality staff. Wages in the sector languish almost 20% behind the salary packages available to those doing similar jobs in government and private enterprise. The chronic shortage of housing in the Territory also makes its difficult to attract staff from southern locations.

 

Territorians are entitled to a strong and stable community sector to ensure that people in our community are happy and productive. The NT cannot prosper if people are left behind in large numbers.

 

“At a time when increasing numbers of Territorians need a hand-up, the government must invest in the community sector to allow these skilled and efficient organisations to assist families and individuals to get back on track” said Ms Morton.  “The future of the Territory depends on it.”