The Northern Territory Government will move vulnerable people from Darwin's largest homeless shelter to a new transitional accommodation facility in Batchelor.
The future of the YiSSA Short-Stay Accommodation site on Batten Road fell into limbo in July after the government gave Yilli Rreung Housing Aboriginal Corporation 90 days to vacate the facility after failing to agree on a price for the property.
The Commonwealth announced they would pay half the cost of the demountable buildings, which are owned by Ausco, while the site itself sits on Crown land in order to secure the future of the site. The NT Government, however, argued retaining the facility at its current location would be a "waste" of taxpayers' money.
Client intake at YiSSA was directed to end on July 27. There are currently 233 people staying at the facility, including 85 children, advocates say, while a further 300 people — including almost 90 children — are reportedly on the waitlist.
On Wednesday, the NT Government announced the establishment of the Northern Territory Respite and Recovery Facility in Batchelor, next to the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education, to accommodate transitional residents relocating from YiSSA.
They say YiSSA residents will relocate before the current facility closes on October 11.
"The new transitional accommodation will focus on assessing residents' long-term needs through structured case management," Children and Families Minister Robyn Cahill said.
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The Minister has previously questioned whether YiSSA is an appropriate facility for all of its current residents.
Many of the people staying at the site "would be better placed in other facilities", she told the NT News, citing people with health problems who "should be in a medical centre" and others who had been there for a long time.
The Northern Territory has the highest rate of homelessness in the country, at almost 12 times the national average. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people account for 87 per cent of the Territory's homeless population.
In response to the government's announcement, Opposition Leader Selena Uibo argued the decision was about what the CLP Government wanted rather than "what the people who rely on YiSSA need".
"Moving vulnerable people out of Darwin takes them further away from medical care, essential services and family support. It does not replace the accommodation Darwin is losing," she said.
"Without a replacement in Darwin, hundreds of people who need to travel into the city will be left with nowhere to stay, forcing more vulnerable people to sleep rough."
Earlier this month, Aboriginal organisations said medical professionals had "made it clear that YiSSA provides much-needed support to people travelling from remote communities for specialist treatment and provides somewhere for patients to be safely discharged".
The government will also establish a new cyclone recovery centre at the site, drawing $7 million from its $100 million Flood Recovery Fund.
"Batchelor played an important role during the 2026 floods, with the Outdoor Education Centre and Institute facilities supporting evacuees from Palumpa and Daly River/Nauiyu," said Jo Hersey, the Minister responsible for the Flood Recovery Fund.
"This investment builds on that experience and the lessons learned during the last cyclone and flood season."
