Review – Under Cover: A documentary about Women Over 50 who are homeless in Australia

Filmed in 2022 and narrated by Margot Robbie, this has been recently added to Netflix or you can visit https://www.undercoverdocumentary.com/ for more details about the film.

It’s hard for me to say what hasn’t already been said on the official website so I’ll just share my own thoughts here.

This documentary was an eye opener for me, as it should be.

I’ve often joked that, being on a pension, I live a pauper’s life, only managing to maintain control of my bills with a tight budget. But if truth be told, I’m in constant fear for my own life circumstances as, living in a Dept of Housing complex, I never know if, or when, they are going to pull the rug out from under my feet and decide I’m not good enough to live in one of their residences. A threat they constantly insinuate due to my hoarding tendencies; something I’m continuously working on.

I’m not entirely afraid of being homeless. I’ve been homeless in the past for brief periods of time, including back when I was a child when my mother and I slept on a bus bench because we had nowhere else to go. Or we’d go couch hopping at her friends’ places, most of them pretty dodgy as they were all her clients from her role as a sex worker.

But this documentary was a personal lesson for other reasons. It gave me hope and inspiration that, if need be, I CAN do it again. I CAN survive without a home, it’s just a matter of planning in advance to prepare, although, being 57, I’m praying the need doesn’t arise.

After all, placing all my belongings into storage would have to be a LOT cheaper than renting even a Dept. of Housing property which means I’d have more money for other expenditures to aid with survival.

My biggest concern would be my furbabies. Currently all seniors, Princess is a blind Miniature Maltese over 10 years, Wombat is a Cattle x Kelpie just turned 11 and Goldie is my senior puss, also over 10 years. Having so many seniors, I am dreading losing all of them soon, so I am in the process of getting a kitten within the next few weeks, a little black girl that I’ve named Ebony. I pray she will bring fresh life back into this household of mostly seniors.

But I digress. If I were to become homeless, I’d worry as to what to do with all my furkids. How could I keep them safe in this cruel world that would so willingly leave a middle-aged woman homeless. I think it’s one of the key reasons I often think I should learn to drive because then, at least I’d have a car I could live in.

As a child, decades ago, my family did this as well, travelling around Australia, we spent months living in a car, only sleeping in caravans if we happen to come across a caravan park, which wasn’t that often. Mostly, nights were spent on the side of a dirt track in the middle of nowhere miles from any sign of civilization.

My heart goes out to the women in this documentary and what they’ve been through. They basically ended up homeless overnight so they’ve been doing what they could to survive their predicament.

One of the ladies, the German one, I could relate to her the most. She mentions that with no close family, Christmas is like any other day to her, and it’s the only time she feels really lonely because she sees families out, enjoying themselves and it’s a harsh reminder to her how lonely she is.

Like her, I’m a loner and comfortable on my own, but also like her, I feel that loneliness on Christmas when I know my friends are with their families. So, I now treat Christmas like any other day, because at least then, I don’t feel the pain of lacking an immediate family; one that is loving anyway, not that I’ve actually experienced anytime in my life what a loving family must feel like.

So, in my closing thoughts, do me one favour if you’re willing, the next time you’re together with your family for Christmas or another festive holiday, perhaps make a new friend with someone that’s homeless, invite them in for a meal or, if you don’t feel comfortable doing that, perhaps go spend some time with a homeless person. Listen to their story. Let them feel heard. You may just end up changing someone’s life for the better.

Or, if you’re shy like me, perhaps reach out to a charity that helps the homeless with clothing, food and necessities and ask how you can help.

If you are struggling in any way, please reach out, there are always services available. https://www.beyondblue.org.au/

Thank you for reading. If you liked this post, please leave a like or comment below.

Better still, I would love to hear your story.