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The letter was provided to Willis’s social worker, Hilary Marks, who is desperately trying to find Willis a home where he can receive treatment.

“I don’t want to die in there,” said Willis, who describes unsanitary conditions in the shared bathrooms, including feces in the shower. “That’s what’s going to happen if I don’t get treatment. It’s a non-curable cancer and it’s terminal.”

Grey Showler, director of the Victoria Cool Aid Society’s health and support services, said he has heard of cases in the past where living in shelters has prevented cancer patients from receiving chemotherapy.

“I think part of it is the number of other infections that might be present in that environment,” Showler said. He added that chemotherapy can cause nausea or diarrhea, so it’s important that patients have a private bathroom.

Cool Aid’s team of doctors and nurses has become acutely aware of the dearth of housing options for people who are seriously ill or dying, Showler said.

“It is a gap in our housing system.”

Cool Aid is working on turning two private apartments in the Rock Bay Landing shelter, previously used for families, into palliative-care beds.

The society is waiting for funding to ensure medical staff is in place to care for the individuals living in those apartments.

Showler mused that one of the beds could be an option for Willis, but said he’s unsure when the funding will come through.

“That will be the first time ever in Victoria that there is a bed available for palliative care for people who are homeless or housed in a situation where they’re not able to access care,” Showler said.