Contributed by Maple St Co-op
In our September newsletter, we shared an article about the housing crisis in Maleny and its impact on our members.
We are so moved to say our community responded — and it’s looking like we’ve found secure housing for two of our team members who were in need. Since our article, we’ve also had other community members reach out to us for help finding housing as well. We’d like to share our article here again in case it helps others connect with a home.
Since 2020, housing prices across the Sunshine Coast and the country have skyrocketed, with prices here rising by over 70%. Meanwhile, wages have increased by less than 10%. And with the explosion of short-term holiday rentals like Airbnb, it’s now harder than ever to find an affordable long-term rental here on the mountain.
We’re appealing directly to the members and customers of our Co-op community:
Do you have a house, unit, or granny flat sitting empty?
Could you consider turning your short-term holiday rental into a long-term home for someone who truly needs one?
We are at risk of losing valuable members of our community — people who grew up here, who work here, who contribute daily to the fabric of Maleny — because they simply can’t find a place to live.
This crisis is bigger than one household. It’s about the future of our town. If there are no homes, there will be no workers to keep our cafés, shops, and services running. The laid-back, supportive community that attracted so many of us here in the first place depends on the people who make it thrive.
What kind of community will we be if we don’t have room for everyone?
Safe, secure, and affordable housing is a basic human right. If you have something available — even a small unit, a granny flat, or a whole home — please consider renting to a fellow community member. We encourage you to do so through a local real estate agency or the popular Facebook page Private Rentals Maleny & Immediate Surrounds.
Let’s support each other the way Maleny always has.