Event to help The Forgotten Women

A high tea marking International Women’s Day will raise money for the fastest growing homeless population – women aged over 55 years.

The event is on Saturday, March 11 from 2-5pm at Hercules Road State School, Kippa-Ring.

It is being organised by The Forgotten Women project which aims to provide fit-for-purpose housing and individually tailored support for homeless women aged over 55 years.

The event is supported by Queensland Police Service and Redcliffe Friendly Grocer.

Guest speakers will include Helen Williams (how to be retirement-ready), Mangrove Housing CEO Teresa Reed and Housing Older Women Movement founding member Linda Hahn. There will also be information available from stall holders.

Tickets to the high tea are $35. Organisers are hoping local businesses will sponsor tables and offer tickets to those in the community who would benefit from attending.

To buy tickets, head here

Why this is important

There are more than 39,000 Queensland women over the age of 55 who are doing it tough - suffering financial hardship driven by rising living costs, lack of employment, limited or no superannuation and a lack of affordable housing options. Recent forecasts predict this figure will double by 2036.

The Forgotten Women project says women experiencing homelessness are significantly less visible and identifiable than their male counterparts, and are often described as the ‘hidden homeless’. Vulnerable older women are more likely to stay with friends, live in a car or in ‘hiding’.

The project's mission is to put a roof over the heads of as many of these women as possible. Through the acquisition of suitable properties, The Forgotten Women project aims to ensure these women have access to secure, safe and affordable housing options.

The project is being delivered by Mangrove Housing, a not-for-profit, community housing provider which has been delivering housing solutions to vulnerable people for over 28 years.

The reasons for the sharp increase in homelessness among women over the age of 55 years include lack of financial resources as a result of the gender pay gap, no or little superannuation and delay in equal opportunity which was not enacted until the 1980s. Women in this situation are often afraid and reluctant to identify as living in poverty or homeless, and Australia is in the grip of a housing affordability crisis.

To find out more, head to the website