A woman walks along a traffic-clogged street, weaving her way through the throng of pedestrians; she slows, pausing for a moment to think, to breathe, before continuing on her journey. Unlike the others, her destination is unfixed. She is homeless, financially struggling, socially disconnected. Her name… is Fiona.
Fiona, now living in stable accommodation in Sydney, is one of many vulnerably housed women featured in ‘UNSEEN’, a multimedia arts project led by Blur Projects and the Women’s Electoral Lobby sharing the hidden experiences of women and homelessness in New South Wales. ‘UNSEEN’ was developed by photographer Belinda Mason who has conceptualised, produced, and presented community engagement projects – ‘Silent Tears’, ‘Breaking Silent Codes’, and ‘Unfinished Business’ – concerning sexuality, disability, identity and violence, and the vulnerability of women. ‘UNSEEN’ follows suit, with a focus on homelessness. The initiative offers this marginalised community an opportunity to collaborate with artists and advocates to generate greater public awareness of the subject and challenge social stigmas.
Michelle, Isabella and Krystal. Photograph: Belinda Mason. Courtesy the artist and UNSEEN
Ignorance prevents us from looking beyond the beggar rattling their tin can for loose change, or those curled up in sleeping bags, tucked away in city nooks or on park benches. Caught between suspicion and charity, most of us, sadly, choose to remove ourselves from the situation and ignore the true plight of homelessness or living in poverty. But homelessness takes on many forms; it could affect any one of us at any time. Whether episodic, transitional or chronic, it is a serious issue and the recent rise of homelessness in older women is alarming.
Currently, on record, there are more than 15,000 homeless women in New South Wales. Between 2011-2016, there was an increase of 48 per cent for women over 55 and a 78 per cent rise in women over 65 unable to access safe, affordable housing due to several factors. ‘Domestic violence, housing crisis, inadequate dwelling conditions and financial difficulties are just some of the circumstances that can lead to women experiencing homelessness,’ said Dr Jane Bullen, Social Policy Researcher, Women’s Electoral Lobby. In 2020, the economic impacts of COVID-19 and confined living spaces as a result of mandatory restrictions have resulted in a pandemic within a pandemic – domestic abuse numbers have surged, and not only women were affected, but children as well. The concern is that ‘Many women do not access housing services due to a fear of stigmatisation, and a concern that services may be unsafe or not lead to long-term housing. That said, women’s homelessness may be unrecorded and its extent obscured,’ says Bullen.
Lani, Fiona and Emily. Photograph: Belinda Mason. Courtesy the artist and UNSEEN
In support of our grandmothers, mothers, aunts and sisters sleeping on the streets, in their cars, couch surfing or accessing crisis accommodation – the registered and unregistered – ‘UNSEEN’ launched its nine-month campaign on March 8 – International Women’s Day. A chrome car occupied Circular Quay, parked adjacent to Customs House, for five days; its windows shaded with images of women Mason photographed in the front and back seats of this travelling home. Here, Mason gives homelessness a face and a vehicle powered by these women’s personal and diverse stories. No longer an anonymous statistic, they cannot be ignored.
‘UNSEEN’ continues in the form of a tiny solar-powered mobile home moving throughout the Sydney CBD and offering workshops for willing participants as well as hosting performances and exhibitions by artists such as First Nations weaver Nadeena Dixon, artists with disability, multimedia artists Denise Beckwith and Dieter Knierim, the Sydney Street Choir, Elder in Residence Aunty Dixie Link Gordon, and Mason herself. This series of mobile installations, both car and home, will be on display for one week each month until December 2021, and some of the pieces will be exhibited later this year at NSW Parliament House on Macquarie Street from 2 to 27 August 2021.
‘It is only through being seen, heard and understood that we can prevent so many women from being without a home.’ – Fiona, 62
‘UNSEEN’ is supported by Art Almanac. Visit our website and social media platforms for regular updates and scheduled events.
If you, or anyone you know, needs support please contact:
Link2Home: 1800 152 152
1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732
People With Disability Australia: 1800 422 015
Lifeline: 13 11 14
