Salvos’ plea for help

Housing critical priority of charity’s 2023 Red Shield fundraising appeal

l CAIRNS CBD

| Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

HOUSING is at the forefront of the Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeal for the Far North this year.

Businesses across Cairns gathered at the Red Shield Appeal fundraising lunch last week with a goal of $125,000. This year all funds of Salvos’ signature fundraiser will go strictly towards addressing the housing crisis in the Far North.

Red Shield Appeal chairwoman Joan Wilson said it was a critical year for the appeal.

“The appeal is more vital now than ever,” she said.

“It’s crucial that the business community provides some resources in whatever form that might be to support the Salvation Army offices in Cairns.

“The funds for the Red Shield campaign will go primarily to housing, to help people who are struggling with their rents, who cannot afford their bond, so they can’t get a roof over their heads.

“We also need to give people strategies, it’s not just saying, ‘Here’s some money, off you go’, but we’ll provide the strategies and the counselling to help people help themselves.”

Corps officer Major Emma Johnson said the need for Salvos’ services had increased as the cost of living and housing pushed families to the limit.

“The housing crisis is as bad as it’s ever been, particularly in the Cairns area,” Major Johnson said.

“Our homelessness rate is the highest in the state, so it’s really difficult for people to access affordable housing.