For over 35 years, SHAC has pioneered support in the area of housing and financial resilience for the Cairns community.
Cumulatively since 2012, our Family and Housing Support team has supported over:
1,545 adults
2,635 children
73% of families identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
79% of presenting head of family unit identified as Female
1,128 cases where Domestic and Family Violence was identified
3,220 distinct Temporary Supported Accommodation stays, totaling 321,309 bed nights
902 distinct Same House Different Landlord stays, totaling 115,936 bed nights
86 distinct Long Term Community Housing stays, totaling 17,616 bed nights
Cumulatively since 2012, our Housing and Family Mobile Support program has supported over:
2,597 families
11,408 hours dedicated to case-managed support
69% of families identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
71% of presenting head of family unit identified as Female
423 cases where Domestic and Family Violence was identified
Cumulatively since 2016, our My Money Program has supported over:
1,717 families and individuals
38,353 hours dedicated to case-managed support
54% of clients identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
81% of presenting head of family unit identified as Female
429 cases where Domestic and Family Violence was identified
Over $1,090,894.96 in debts waived
Cumulatively since 2005, our No Interest Loans (NILs) team has supported over:
6,165 new loans issued to the value of $5,938,152
3,829 loans completed (fully paid off)
7,147 adults and 7,644 children benefited from loans issued
67% of clients identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
76% of clients identified as Female
SHAC in the spotlight:
Cairns Post feature: Calls for more public housing to ease Cairns rental squeeze (November, 2023)
Radio interview with ABC, about the housing crisis (playback from 1:14:50) (August, 2023)
TV interview with Channel 7, about the housing crisis (August, 2023)
Cairns Post feature: Rent hikes, lack of upkeep symptom of crisis (March, 2023)
Radio interview with 4CA, about the housing crisis (February, 2023)
Cairns Post feature: Housing support package falls short for thousands on wait list (December, 2022)
Cairns Post feature: Youth Foyer proposal for Cairns to address vulnerable youth (July, 2022)
Homelessness cost of living case study (pages 26-27) (September, 2021)
NIls in Far North Queensland: Evaluation of the reach funding (June, 2017)