00:02A week since the highly publicised move to this Outback facility, many of the beds here
00:08are empty.
00:10A number of people we know have moved in with family, a number of people have returned to
00:14country but we do worry that we've lost contact with people now once they've exited the service
00:20that they might still be looking for some supports that we aren't able to provide.
00:25Since the closure of the 400-bed YSA facility in Darwin last week, only 23 people have moved
00:33to the alternative site in Batchelor.
00:36We were speaking with a gentleman who was at YSA who was contemplating holding up a bottle
00:42shop just so he could get accommodation in jail for the next six months.
00:46So he saw that as a viable alternative than going to Batchelor.
00:51One anti-domestic and family violence service says the closure is a factor in a current
00:57surge in demand.
00:58We've had increased presentations from women seeking emergency and crisis accommodation
01:04and presenting with increased safety risk.
01:09While the Batchelor site is mostly empty, it may not be for long.
01:14A new public housing policy has been enacted allowing immediate action to be taken for repeated
01:21anti-social behaviour.
01:23When asked yesterday if she was worried the policy could lead to more people on the streets,
01:28Chief Minister Leah Finocchiaro said she wasn't concerned.
01:32Because we have a lovely new facility out at Batchelor where homeless people can go and
01:37you'll get a beautiful double bed and a TV and an en-suite, it'll be great.
01:42We know currently that there will be extra pressures put on families who have taken in residence
01:48from YSA and then now with the government's proposed changes to look at evicting people will
01:56only exacerbate homelessness in the Northern Territory.
02:00The Territory grappling to get its house in order.
