Walk in Her Shoes - women’s homelessness on the Peninsula
Published on 02 February 2026
Homelessness on the Mornington Peninsula continues to rise with the region now recording the highest overall number of people sleeping rough, including the highest number of women, of all Victorian LGA's counting this data.
Women, older residents, young people and families are increasingly being forced into cars, tents and unsafe temporary arrangements, while local community support centres are overwhelmed providing emergency relief and crisis support, yet receiving no State or Federal Government funding.
To help the community better understand the reality behind these figures, the statewide Walk in Her Shoes exhibition will be on display on the Peninsula from 2 – 16 March 2026 at Mornington Central Shopping Centre, sharing the lived experiences of women who have experienced homelessness.
In partnership with the Council to Homeless Persons, theexhibition uses real stories to challenge misconceptions, build empathy and show that homelessness is not inevitable – it is solvable with the right investment and policy choices.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a Community Forum and Local Launch on 16 March from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at the Peninsula Community Theatre, bringing together housing leaders, service providers, advocates and people with lived experience to discuss the local impact of homelessness and the action needed to address it.
What's in store on the night?
- Walk through a moving display of stories and portraits showcasing the resilience of women navigating housing insecurity.
- Join a conversation with panellists including Rosie Batty AO, campaigner against family violence; the Hon Harriet Shing, Victoria's Minister for Housing; local homelessness workers and lived experience experts
- Learn about simple ways you can support change at a local level.
Interested in attending the forum? Register here.
Mayor Councillor Anthony Marsh said the figures on the Peninsula were confronting and highlighted the growing pressure on women and families.
“Homelessness isn’t something happening somewhere else. It’s happening across the Peninsula, and increasingly affecting women, older residents and families who never expected to find themselves without a safe place to live.”
“We’re seeing women over 55 living in cars, families moving between unsafe arrangements, and people stuck moving through crisis with nowhere stable to land. That’s the human impact behind the statistics.”
Cr Marsh said Council was taking practical action locally, while continuing to advocate for broader reform.
“At a local level, Council is funding community support centres, working directly with people sleeping rough through the Functional Zero program, and progressing our Triple A Housing Plan to improve coordination and outcomes.”
“But local government cannot solve a national housing crisis on its own. Demand is growing faster than local resources, and frontline services are under real strain.”
He said the Walk in Her Shoes exhibition was an important opportunity to put lived experience front and centre and build momentum for change.
“Initiatives like Walk in Her Shoes help cut through assumptions and remind us that homelessness is solvable when governments back the solutions that work.”
“Reducing homelessness requires sustained State and Federal investment in outreach, crisis accommodation and long-term social housing, not short-term fixes.”
Walk in Her Shoes is delivered in partnership with Mornington Peninsula Shire, the Council to Homeless Persons, MAV, CSVic and the Peninsula’s three Community Support Centres.
Want to learn more about everything we’re doing to tackle homelessness? Click here
To learn more about our advocacy efforts in this space click here.