Sally Watson of SHAC says Cairns crisis housing solutions constrained by state government funding

Indigenous families living in a Manunda bush camp have hours to consider their next move. But crisis housing organisations say the options are limited.

INDIGENOUS families yet to move on from the Manunda bush camp have just hours to consider their options as Cairns Regional Council’s enforcement team prepares to disperse and remove the camp on Tuesday.

At least three camp dwellers have said they feel unsafe trying the insufficient amount of crisis housing options around the city.

Shelter Housing Action Cairns executive officer Sally Watson said the sector wished it had greater powers to meet the need.

Elizabeth Day moved from Mapoon to Cairns 9 months ago with her brother and sister to escape family conflict. They have been living in a camp in the bush, but the Cairns Regional Council have given them until Tuesday to move on. They say they don’t feel safe moving into crisis accommodation. Picture: Brendan Radke

“There isn’t much suitable crisis accommodation for families in Cairns,” she said.

“SHAC runs 19 separate houses for families in crisis, but they’re always full and difficult to get into if the situation is urgent.

“The reason for that is we’re having incredible difficulty in moving families on to permanent housing, which is what all crisis models are about.”

Shelter Housing Action Cairns (SHAC) executive officer Sally Watson is lobbying for solutions to a homelessness crisis in Cairns. Picture: Bronwyn Farr

Ms Watson said her organisation previously housed people up to six months, but the housing shortage has prolonged the average stay to 12 months.

“For every vacancy we have, we unfortunately have to turn away five families,” she said.

“While there could be many services in Cairns who’d like to offer more separate housing, including our own, to families in crisis, it’s just not available. We can’t get it from the state government.”

The council has promised to assist the Manunda camp residents with finding accommodation options by connecting them with Mission Australia’s outreach team.

Originally published as Sally Watson of SHAC says Cairns crisis housing solutions constrained by state government funding