Powerful exhibition heads to Shepparton amid homelessness increase in the region
Illustrations telling the stories of three women and their experiences with homelessness across Victoria are now on display in Shepparton, where homelessness is rising.
The illustrations bring the true stories of three women to life, showing how they became homeless, each at different stages of life. The illustrator, local Melbourne artist Jo Waite, has also experienced housing insecurity herself.
The exhibition “Walk in Her Shoes” has been on display in Shepparton, with a special forum taking place at the exhibition’s Closing Night Event on Tuesday, February 24.
It comes as the latest AIHW data shows homelessness has increased in the Greater Shepparton area. 2,037 people from Greater Shepparton sought assistance from homelessness services in 2022-23, increasing to 2,116 the following year, and then rising again to 2,313 in 2024-25.
The forum panel will include Diana Connell, whose story is illustrated in the art works. Diana experienced homelessness in the Shepparton region, and will share key insights about how she was able to navigate that distressing time.
Among the other panellists are Celia Adams from local homelessness services provider Beyond Housing, the Member for Shepparton Kim O’Keeffe and the Salvation Army’s Northeast Victoria Youth Services Regional Manager, Leah Farnham.
Council to Homeless Persons CEO Deborah Di Natale said exhibitions and forums like this were critical to helping raise awareness, and highlight solutions to the homelessness crisis.
“We know people often think of male rough sleepers when they think of homelessness. But tragically, women and children are over-represented when it comes to homelessness,” she said.
“Nearly 60% of people coming to homelessness services for help are women. And we know violence and abuse are a major driver of homelessness for so many Victorians. This exhibition highlights that heartbreaking reality,” she said.
Council to Homelessness Persons is calling on the state government to commit to increasing Victoria’s proportion of social housing to meet the national average. Victoria currently has the lowest proportion of social housing of any state or territory in Australia, and more than 66,000 people on the waitlist for social housing. The government’s own infrastructure expert, Infrastructure Victoria, has recommended building at least 60,000 new social homes by 2040.
“Without urgent action from our state government, more Victorians will be forced to resort to sleeping rough, couch surfing, sleeping in cars and tents, or going back to unsafe environments because there are no other options. We can and must end this,” Deborah Di Natale said.
Fast facts:
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105,000 people sought assistance from homelessness services in Victoria in 2024/25 (up 2.9%)
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One in 66 Victorians received homelessness assistance, higher than the national rate (one in 94)
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59% were women (62,000)
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19,380 were working Victorians (up 12% in 5 years)
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One third of people seeking homelessness assistance in Australia are in Victoria, but we have the lowest proportion of social housing in the country (3%)
Media contact: Kathleen Ferguson - 0421 522 080
