National Homelessness week has sparked calls for a comprehensive strategy from all levels of government to tackle the alarming rate of people sleeping rough in Katherine.
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Katherine remains in a housing crisis with more people homeless, per capita, than anywhere else in Australia.
The lack of investment into new housing is at the root of the issue.
"The Katherine Accommodation Action group is calling for Katherine to pursue a regional deal similar to that of Tennant Creek and the Barkly," the coordinator of the Katherine Doorways Hub - a drop-in centre for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness - Harley Dannatt said.
The Barkly Regional Deal is an agreement between the three levels of government aimed at improving social outcomes for its constituents.
"There is no homelessness strategy right now in Katherine, despite the fact that we have one of the highest homelessness rates in the country," Mr Dannatt said.
"Programs like the Hub and Wurli's Katherine Individual Support Program give strong evidence that we have the capability and the passion within existing services to respond effectively.
"But looking towards the next steps in addressing homelessness, Katherine needs all levels of government working together."
Every day about 100 people stream through the doors of the Katherine Doorways Hub for a meal, a shower and support.
Each one is either experiencing homelessness or at risk.
Today, Katherine's many services convened at the Hub for a community lunch to mark Homelessness Week, which highlights the 116,000 Australians who are sleeping rough on any given night.
Samuel Crowson was among the many who attended.
Born in Katherine, the 35-year-old does not have a permanent house, and spends a lot of his time worrying about where he will sleep.
Admitting to a drinking problem, and spending five Christmases behind bars for fighting he said his life could have turned out differently had there been more support in finding a stable home.
"If I don't drink I am okay, I go to work and can sort out somewhere to sleep," Mr Crowson said.
"But there have been lots of money problems and not enough help from the government.
"In a perfect world I would have wanted more help getting a home."
He said sleeping rough in Katherine is all too common, and something he has experienced on more than one occasion.
The community lunch was an opportunity for services in Katherine such as the Salvation Army, Anglicare and Wurli Wurlinjang Health Service to both shine a light on the homelessness issue as well as highlight the community's resilience.
Lizzie Bormann and Cheryl Walton from the Salvation Army said the lunch was an eye opening experience.
They had brought hundreds of donated clothing items from Darwin to give away - no one walked away from their stall empty handed.
"The sheer volume of people coming to us in need of clothing shows how grim the situation in Katherine really is," Ms Bormann said.
The Salvation Army is now in the midst of organising more clothing drives for the future, Ms Walton said.
"There is enough clothing out there it is just a case of organising the event and getting the word out."
"Today has shown us how how needed this is."
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, almost 195,000 families remain on social housing waiting lists across Australia.
Among many other organisations, Uniting Care Australia is calling on federal and state governments to "urgently develop and commit to a National Housing Strategy" to address the growing crisis of homelessness.
"Australia has the resources to ensure that everyone experiences a safe and supportive community, has access to appropriate housing and is not at risk of homelessness," a spokesman from Uniting Care Australia said.
"A National Housing Strategy must clearly define the roles of all governments in increasing the supply of social and affordable housing.
"Investing in social housing will reduce homelessness and housing stress, bridge the gap in housing investment and assist in job creation and income growth."