This New Year's Eve, Eric William Tjapaltjarri Parker watched the fireworks from his tent.
Another year, another desperate wish for a home.
It's a dream he's struggling to hold on to, starting to let go.
"It is hopeless," Mr Parker, a Pintupi-Luritja man, said.
"I feel hopeless."
Mr Parker has been struggling with homelessness since his family was torn apart when he was 14.
These days, he and partner Chantelle Wurrama, an Anindilyakwa woman, are sleeping rough across Alice Springs, seeking shelter wherever they can.
"I've found myself on the street because there is no accommodation," Mr Parker said.
"There's just not enough here in Alice Springs."
Demand outstrips supply
Mr Parker and Ms Wurrama are among a growing number of Territorians who have been desperately seeking help over the holiday period.
Over this Christmas and New Year's period, the Salvation Army has seen a 30 per cent surge in the number of clients dropping into their centres across the NT, compared to last year.
In Darwin, many of these clients have travelled in from remote communities to visit family or do Christmas shopping.
However, the recent torrential downpour has left many stranded in the city, seeking alternative accommodation.
But there's scarce affordable housing across the Territory, and homeless shelters are full to bursting.
"We've had to turn families away because we're unable to assist," Salvation Army NT regional manager Jamie-Lee Barnard said.
Some local families are taking loved ones under their roofs, to keep them off the streets.
But they now face the possibility of losing their homes, due to overcrowding.
"We've seen lots of reports of notices that there could be evictions," Ms Barnard said.
Families sleeping rough
In Alice Springs, only a handful of shelters still have space — but according to the Salvation Army, these shelters don't accept children.
It's forcing families to sleep rough — under bridges and in riverbeds.
"When you see a child sleeping underneath a tree with their parents, a lot of judgement is passed on to their parents. But why?" Ms Barnard said.
"What other options do they have?"
Salvation Army Alice Springs site coordinator Emmanuel Migi said many of his clients were from outside communities, and were in town to visit family, or for medical reasons.
"To see a family coming here with nowhere to sleep, no food and without any financial support, really breaks my heart," he said.
There has also been a spike in demand for financial assistance from the organisation.
This year, Centrelink payments were handed out earlier than usual in the lead-up to Christmas.
Ms Barnard believed this was a major factor in people's money struggles.
"Almost all of the clients that have attended our sites over the last few days have reported that due to the early payments, they've been unable to carry on for the remainder of that week," she said.
"Prior to this, they were managing it. But it's just thrown everything out.
"I think it's done more harm than good."
Calls for government action
There are growing calls for the federal and territory governments to boost temporary accommodation across the NT.
"That way there's an option for families who are visiting from communities to have a safe place to stay," Ms Barnard said.
There's also an intensifying need for more social and affordable housing, as the Northern Territory's homelessness rate remains at 12 times the national average.
Both governments claim they are working on it.
The NT Government said their $40 million spend to build homes across 11 town camps in Alice Springs would help address homelessness in the town.
Acting Minister for Housing Lauren Moss said remote housing projects for surrounding communities would also alleviate pressures.
"[This] means people currently staying in Alice Springs due to overcrowding in remote areas will be able to return to their home communities," she said.
Federal Minister for Housing Julie Collins said her government had an "ambitious housing reform agenda" to boost safe and affordable housing in Australia.
But for those like Mr Parker and Ms Wurrama, change can't come soon enough.
"We need more housing," Mr Parker said.
"We need help to get people off the street."
