Live Like Her: Sleeping out to support Australia’s Forgotten Women

On Thursday 3 September, four members of the Lume Wealth team took part in the Live Like Her Challenge, an initiative of The Forgotten Women, spending the night sleeping in our cars to help raise awareness and vital funds for women experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity.

For our team, sleeping in a car for one night was a choice. For too many women across Australia, it is a reality they face every day.

Together with other participants, supporters, and donors, the event raised more than $428,000 to help provide housing, support services, and pathways to a more secure future for women at risk of homelessness.

Who are the forgotten women?

The Live Like Her Challenge is designed to go beyond fundraising. It provides participants with an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by women experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness.

Throughout the evening, we heard powerful stories that brought the issue into sharp focus. Behind every statistic is a person, often a woman who has spent years caring for family members, raising children, contributing to her community, and building a life that appeared secure.

Yet circumstances can change quickly.

Divorce, illness, family violence, caring responsibilities, rising living costs, and lower lifetime earnings and superannuation balances can create financial vulnerability, particularly later in life. For many women, a combination of these factors can lead to housing insecurity with little warning.

“Part of why participating in the Live Like Her Challenge is important to me is because I understand that financial security isn’t something we can take for granted. Many women experiencing homelessness have spent a lifetime contributing to their families and communities, putting others ahead of themselves. Supporting The Forgotten Women is one small way we can help drive awareness and meaningful change.”

– Morgan Hayward, Director

Women over 55 are one of the fastest-growing demographics experiencing homelessness in Australia. In Queensland alone, more than 40,000 women are living with housing insecurity or homelessness.

Despite this growing issue, many people remain unaware of how common housing insecurity has become for older women. These are not strangers removed from our communities. They are our mothers, sisters, neighbours, colleagues, and friends.

The challenge highlighted an important reality: homelessness does not always look the way people expect. Many women experiencing housing insecurity have lived independent, productive lives and may find themselves in vulnerable situations due to circumstances beyond their control.

By raising awareness and supporting organisations like The Forgotten Women, we can help ensure these women have access to the support, dignity, and opportunities they deserve.

A night of reflection and connection

While sleeping in a car for one night can never replicate the uncertainty and hardship experienced by women facing homelessness. The comparably brief moments of inconvenience and discomfort we experienced encouraged greater reflection, empathy, and important conversations.

It was a reminder of the value of safe and stable housing, and of the importance of supporting initiatives that create meaningful change in our communities.

The event also created an opportunity for the Lume Wealth team to come together around a shared purpose. Alongside the fundraising efforts, we were proud to receive the award for Best Car Setup, adding some light-hearted team spirit to an evening centered on a serious and important cause.

Thank you

We would like to thank everyone who donated, participated, and supported the Live Like Her Challenge.

Your generosity will help fund practical support, housing assistance, and services that make a tangible difference to women facing housing insecurity and homelessness.

The impact of this event extends far beyond a single night. Every conversation, donation, and act of support helps shine a light on an issue that affects thousands of women across Australia and brings us one step closer to creating lasting change.