Homelessness in Melbourne: Stories of Women Fleeing Violence and Hardship

During long, bitter winter nights, Vanessa Heart would hide under the front hedges of homes in Melbourne's outer west to protect herself against the "monsters".

"If the predators got a hold of you, they'd beat the crap out of you and they'd take whatever little you had," she said.

"It was very hard because at 60 years old, you're old and your bones are really hurting and it's cold. I didn't have any blankets, I didn't even have proper coats or anything."

But Ms Heart said she had no choice but to sleep rough.

Her experience of homelessness is all too common.

Family and domestic violence is a major driver of homelessness, accounting for more than 40 per cent of those who access specialist services to find a place to live, according to the latest statistics from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

Women and girls make up 60 per cent of the estimated 289,000 people who seek help.

And the number of homeless women aged over 55 has surged, with earlier census data pointing to an approximately 40 per cent increase over the decade from 2011.

But safe housing advocate Diana Connell wants to be known as more than just a number.

After fleeing from an abusive husband, she had to live in her car while dealing with lung cancer, as her teenage son lived and studied for his year 12 exams in the back seat.

"I parked in the McDonald's car park and used their power points to charge up my feeding machine, so I could hang it up to get my feeds overnight in my car because my stomach had stopped working," she said.

"I always say to people, imagine if this was your mother or your sister … we need more compassion and we need more money from the government as well."

Among other advocacy work, Ms Connell has co-designed Safe at Home — a program that aims to keep victim survivors of family violence safely housed — but she's accepted her dream of owning her own home will never become reality.

"Every time I pack up to shift to a different rental because it's so insecure, I get panic attacks because packing boxes is a sign we could be homeless again any day," she said.

"When you turn 55 … I'm in that cohort now of women who've come through domestic violence and ended up with no superannuation, no savings, everything's been spent on the children."

Walk in Her Shoes

The two women's stories are featured in an exhibition presented by the Council to Homeless Persons at the Box Hill Community Arts Centre.

Called Walk in Her Shoes, it reveals the stark experience of homelessness at various ages.

The council's CEO, Deborah Di Natale, said Victoria was still around 80,000 social housing properties short of the national average.

The Victorian government in April announced it would build an extra 7,000 social housing properties over the coming decade, with an initial $860 million allocated in the May budget.

"This will deliver even more social homes sooner, giving people in need a secure foundation," Treasurer Jaclyn Symes said at the time.

While commending recent investments, Ms Di Natale said it needed to be "the start of a far bigger and faster building effort" to ensure women's safety and security.

"This exhibition asks people to sit with three of those stories and understand," Ms Di Natale said.

"Homelessness can reach a young woman fleeing violence, a mum trying to shield her kids, or an older woman who has simply run out of options."

Ms Heart has continued to give back by helping others treading her path, as a volunteer for the Housing for the Aged Action Group.

Among her cherished possessions are two Christmas trees which remain on display in her home year-round.

"I didn't get to celebrate Christmas when I was young … [now] every day is Christmas," she said.

"I know that I'm one of the lucky ones."