Darwin homeless shelter faces closure, residents fear losing homes
Hundreds of people living at YiSSA, Darwin's biggest homeless centre, have been ordered to leave by 11 October as lease talks with the building owner collapsed.
YiSSA, the largest short-stay homeless facility in Darwin, will cease operations after the NT government terminated its lease with Ausco Modular. Over 350 occupants, including 130 children, have been told to move out by 11 October. The government had proposed $3 million for the site's infrastructure, but Ausco sought between $8 million and $12 million.
As a result, the shelter stopped accepting new clients, affecting a waiting list of more than 300 people. Authorities claim they are assessing other housing options and guarantee that no one will be left homeless, though residents like Silipa Fangaake and Leonardo DeSantis voice fears of ending up on the streets. Yvette Park of Yilli Housing Aboriginal Corporation is negotiating possible solutions, but any resolution will require substantial funding.
Why it matters
The shutdown threatens housing security for hundreds of vulnerable residents in Darwin's ongoing homelessness crisis.
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