New Head Office for Yilli Rreung Housing Aboriginal Corporation

Joint Media Release

The Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP

Senator Sam McMahon

Yilli Rreung Housing Aboriginal Corporation, (Yilli Housing) has opened it newly refurbished head office building, made possible by a $1 million grant from the Aboriginals Benefit Account (ABA).

Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP, said the funding from the ABA will allow Yilli Housing to further professionalise their operations and take their business to the next level.

“This new office will help Yilli Housing better service their community in securing appropriate and affordable housing,” Minister Wyatt said.

“With a greater asset base behind them, Yilli Housing can move forward with their plans to purchase more properties and negotiate for stock transfer from the Northern Territory Government Public Housing sector.

“This will give the organisation the opportunity to expand and support more Northern Territory families with their housing ambitions, while also offering more employment opportunities locally.”

Senator for Northern Territory, Dr Sam McMahon, said Yilli help address barriers faced by Indigenous residents seeking affordable and community housing.

“Assisting people into safe and reliable accommodation has so many flow on benefits for the community,” Senator McMahon said.

“Many of Yilli’s clients need a holistic approach with their housing needs and a new refurbished headquarters will strengthen their offering.

“It will allow Yilli Housing to present a more polished and professional business, create new and strong partnerships, and to become a recognised leader in the community housing sector.”

Yilli Housing Chief Executive Officer, Leeanne Caton, said flexible housing arrangements can help break the poverty cycle for many.

“Yilli Housing addresses the entire “Housing Continuum” from crisis accommodation to affordable housing,” Ms Caton said.

“We have seen instances where people in public housing may decline job opportunities for fear their income goes over the income threshold and they get evicted.

“We work to adapt the status of the house to cater for the needs of the family as their circumstances change, which helps keep people in their home.”

Yilli Housing is the first Aboriginal Corporation in the Top End to be registered under the National Regulatory System for Community Housing and the third registered Community Housing Provider in the Northern Territory.

It provides property and tenancy management for over two hundred properties. These properties consist of town-based community living areas, homelands and affordable housing that is spread across Darwin suburbia.