‘Housing is health infrastructure’: AMSANT says YiSSA closure exposes NT social housing crisis. The Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT) says the looming closure of YiSSA has exposed the dangerous consequences of the Northern Territory’s chronic shortage of safe, appropriate social housing for people with serious health needs.

According to the Productivity Commission Closing the Gap: Dashboard, Target 9B cannot be reported against as there is no data source currently available. Submission 1 of the Closing the Gap Review 2026 by AHNT, presents a methodology for measuring Target 9B by assessing the discrepancy in service levels, consumer rights and protections between major urban areas and remote communities in the NT through the assessment of 10 Consumer-Centred Apex Indicators.

Aboriginal Housing Northern Territory (AHNT), the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) and the North Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Service (NAAFLS) are deeply disappointed by today’s announcement from the Northern Territory Government that residents of YiSSA Short-Stay Accommodation will be relocated to Batchelor following the closure of YiSSA.

We condemn the recent comment made by Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro that the YiSSA homelessness facility is a waste of money. The Chief Minister’s comments are hurtful to the hundreds of families who rely on YiSSA for safety.