Tuesday, June 7, 2011

New light, new day as PM opens village

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has officially opened a new accommodation village for homeless Indigenous people in Alice Springs, which will be managed by Mission Australia.

The Aherlkeme Village will offer transitional housing and help homeless people move into more permanent housing by giving them the skills to access and hold a tenancy in either the public or private market.

Aherlkeme, meaning ‘new light, new day’, is designed to help break the cycle of homelessness and reduce over crowding in town camps. It will provide 75 supported accommodation places, in 29 units of one to four bedrooms.

The $8.3 million village is part of a government plan to transform areas of Alice Springs and its town camps so they are safe, healthy places to live.

Mission Australia will manage the village, as well as providing case management and tenancy support services.

Through these services, tenants will develop:
  • Knowledge and skills to maintain a safe and healthy home
  • Skills to resolve conflicts and manage visitors
  • An understanding of tenancy rights and responsibilities
  • Greater responsibility in their homes and neighbourhoods
  • An understanding of how to access support services once they leave the village

Ms Gillard opened the Aherlkeme Village today, with Mission Australia's Northern Territory director Phillip Leslie. Aherlkeme is about 5km from the township of Alice Springs.

Image: Prime Minister Julia Gillard at the new Aherlkeme Village with Mission Australia's Northern Territory director Phillip Leslie (centre) and staff from Mission Australia's Alice Springs office.

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