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First Nations families move into affordable homes

27 March 2024
Safety and Wellbeing
Sarah and Murray Liddle with their children at their new home in Darwin.

First Nations families around Darwin in the Northern Territory are moving in to affordable homes through a $20 million investment from the Aboriginals Benefit Account delivered by Yilli Rreung Housing Aboriginal Corporation.

This week, the Liddle family was among the first of more than 42 First Nations families around Darwin in the Northern Territory to move into affordable homes.

Sarah and Murray Liddle and their four children have been homeless for three months and searching for affordable accommodation. They had been living with another family in a small home, just to stay off the streets but they now moved into a four bedroom home.

‘It’s so crowded − we’ve had to send our eldest son to boarding school in Adelaide, because it’s impossible for him to study with 11 people in one house. It’s been a huge sacrifice financially, especially since we can’t afford mainstream rental accommodation,’ Sarah said.

The Northern Territory’s rate of homelessness is 12 times the national average rate and 88 per cent of those who are homeless are First Nations people. First Nations families face additional barriers with many reporting discrimination at rental inspections and during the application process.

‘Having a home again is huge for our family, now and for our children’s future. Being able to have a bit of money to save, and not counting our coins to make sure we can buy milk and bread for the kids before the next pay, is such a relief,’ Sarah explained.

Sarah and her family now have access to affordable housing and a place of their own through the $20 million investment from the Aboriginals Benefit Account (ABA) delivered by Yilli Rreung Housing Aboriginal Corporation.  

‘Seeing Sarah and Murray Liddle and their children open the door to their family home fills all of us at Yilli, with pride and joy. We know only too well the stress homelessness presents and how significant this issue is, particularly for First Nations people here in the Territory,’ shared CEO of Yilli Rreung Housing Aboriginal Corporation, Michael Berto.

Yilli Rreung Housing Aboriginal Corporation is an Aboriginal community organisation that manages more than 200 properties across the Greater Darwin region. They are one of the largest community housing providers in the NT and are building their housing supply with funding from the ABA and investing in 42 homes.

Find out more

The ABA is a Special Account established under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 to benefit Aboriginal people living in the NT that is generated through royalties from mining on Aboriginal land in the NT.

ABA arrangements have transferred to the Northern Territory Aboriginal Investment Corporation (NTAIC), a new Aboriginal-led corporate Commonwealth entity which will implement ABA grants program to deliver greater benefits to Aboriginal people in the NT.