Mal Cayley is the face and driving force behind a Home for Everyone Under the Sun. A Market Intelligence specialist, Mal has been observing, commenting on and responding to the property market for two decades and predicted the rental crisis occurring on the Sunshine Coast now, back in 2013.

Releasing property market updates regularly, Mal became increasingly frustrated when Council was asked questions about their view of the Sunshine Coast property market under supply in response to a report Mal released in 2021, and Councils replied showing an obvious lack of understanding of the extent of the under supply of property or its impending impact.

Motivated by a genuine care for this region and its people, Mal set about helping to explain the full extent of the rental, housing and homelessness crisis, providing the most in depth explanation of the issues within the 2022 Sunshine Coast Property Market Update. Such was the power of the Update that Bernard Salt, renowned demographer, has said “every region needs a report like this.”

The Update wasn’t enough to create the change needed, with Council providing another lack-lustre response that didn’t show the “hope” the region needs. As a father of 6 children aged between 3 and 18, Mal was standing at the coffee machine in his office considering the future of the younger generations and was overwhlemed by the realisation that his dire predictions of a decade ago were becoming likely, and what could unfold over the next 5 to 10 years if we do not drive dramatic change now is not something he will stand by idly waiting for.

As a long-serving Army Veteran, Mal is well accustomed to not confusing government intent with execution and in that coffee machine moment knew someone needed to drive the change we need. This was the moment he turned to his team and started the path to SOLVE the crisis, creating a Home for Everyone Under the Sun who wants one, who needs one and who deserves one.

Mal certainly isn’t doing this on his own, bolstering the strength and support of his business partner, Adam Thomas, and the team at the Direct Collective as well as a growing list of volunteers and passionate organisations.

The Direct Collective has first-hand experience with the challenges facing our community as they help people manage accommodation needs everyday, from tenants, owners, buyers, sellers, landlords and short stay guests and work alongside innovators looking at the challenges of delivering more supply.

The Direct Collective is a local, family-owned business made up of and representing 50 families on the Sunshine Coast, almost 200 children across dozens of schools and sporting and community clubs. Direct Collective is a true representation of the Sunshine Coast, and having all been affected in some way by the crisis, the team have joined the movement to DO something to see it resolved.