Darwin Homeless Shelter Residents Plead for Help as Closure Looms

Hundreds of residents at Darwin’s largest homeless shelter, YiSSA, a short-stay accommodation center, have been informed they must vacate the premises by October 11, as the facility begins its closure process. Many of these residents, including families with children, are now actively seeking assistance to find alternative housing before the doors close.
The Northern Territory government revealed it had offered the building owner, Ausco Modular, $3 million for the infrastructure, a sum they described as fair market value. However, this offer was met with counter proposals ranging from $8 million to $12 million, leading to the termination of lease negotiations and the subsequent shutdown order.
Leonardo DeSantis, among those affected, expressed deep concern about the transition, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding his living arrangements once YiSSA closes. The facility, home to approximately 220 adults and 130 children, has been a critical resource for many in the community.
With the shutdown initiated, more than 300 individuals on the waitlist for homelessness services, including 89 minors, will be displaced. The NT government is assessing other accommodation options to ensure current residents are relocated, but officials have emphasized that no one will be left without a place to stay.
Silipa Fangaake, who has resided at YiSSA for nearly three years after facing homelessness due to illness, shared her anxiety about the future. “I’ll probably end up at the park on that side where people go and camp — that’s where most will likely go,” she stated, adding that her condition, including dialysis, makes such an outcome particularly distressing.
The situation underscores the broader issue of housing insecurity and the challenges in providing stable support for vulnerable neighbors. As the closure proceeds, the need for compassionate public policy and community resources to address these concerns becomes increasingly evident, reflecting a call to action rooted in the care for all people.

Source: Read the original report