Victoria’s Knox City Council will next week host a film screening and panel discussion led by social commentator, Jane Caro, highlighting the issue of homelessness among older women.
The ‘Making It Home: Uncovering Solutions to Older Women’s Housing’ event will feature a screening of documentary Under Cover.
The film follows 10 women whose lives haven’t panned out the way they expected. They’ve lived in nice houses, worked good jobs, educated their children and then suddenly life unravelled and through no fault of their own they found themselves unable to pay their rent or mortgage.
Single women over 55 are the fastest growing cohort of people experiencing homelessness in the eastern metropolitan region. Over 5,000 women over 55 in Melbourne’s east could be at risk of housing insecurity.
Knox City Council is guiding a project to prevent homelessness among older women being undertaken by the Eastern Affordable Housing Alliance (EAHA), which also includes Manningham, Maroondah, Monash, Whitehorse and Yarra Ranges councils.
Panellists at the event include lead researcher for EAHA’s Preventing Homelessness in Women Over 55 project Dr Kate Raynor, Under Cover director Sue Thomson, architect and co-author of A Design Guide for Older Women’s Housing, Sophie Dyring, and a guest woman featured in the film.
Since 2017, the Alliance has advised government on the shortfall in social and affordable housing across the eastern region. There is currently a shortfall of 9,400 dwellings, which will increase to 11,800 by 2032 unless action is taken.
Rising rents in the private rental market, living alone, working part-time, having little savings, and being from a non-English speaking or First Nations background are among the factors placing older women at greater risk of homelessness.
The Making It Home event is on Thursday 16 March from 6pm-8.45pm at Karralyka Centre, Mines Road, Ringwood.
Doors open 5.30pm, with the screening of Under Cover at 6pm followed by the panel discussion at 7pm.
The cost is $10. Canapes, popcorn and non-alcoholic drinks will be provided.
If you experience financial barriers, you can register for a free ticket and assistance with transport by filling out this form.
For bookings or more information, visit Buy tickets Karralyka.
