A glamorous PR guru has revealed how she went from living in one of Australia’s most exclusive suburbs to sleeping in her car.
Glen-Marie Frost, 73, told a NSW parliamentary inquiry on Monday that she was a living example of how homelessness could happen to anyone.
The executive once ran an international PR firm, had a job as the head of communications for the Sydney Olympics and lived in a sprawling mansion in Bellevue Hill, in the city’s exclusive eastern suburbs.
However, her glamorous lifestyle came to an abrupt end after a divorce left the savvy businesswoman with barely any assets, money or a place to stay.
Glen-Marie Frost, 73, (pictured) told a NSW parliamentary inquiry on Monday that she was a living example of how homelessness can happen to anyone
Ms Frost (pictured with Kerri-Anne Kennerley) realised too late that her former partner, a wealthy property executive, had plunged the family into debt during the 1980s
Ms Frost realised too late that her former partner, a wealthy property executive, had plunged the family into debt during the 1980s, leaving her with little to her name.
She then became unwell and was forced to close her executive coaching business, with spiralling debts causing her to become homeless at the age of 64.
Ms Frost told the inquiry she was now living in public housing in the inner-city suburb of Wolloomolloo and was receiving a pension.
Despite having a roof over her head now and a steady income thanks to the pension, the former executive said it had taken her years to find her feet.
She was forced to sleep in her car when she was no longer able to stay with friends.
‘I was too tired to ring up the next person,’ Ms Frost said.
‘The thing about staying with friends is you don’t know when you’ve overstayed your welcome’.
Ms Frost (pictured on Monday) told the inquiry she was now living in public housing in the inner-city suburb of Wolloomolloo and was receiving a pension
She told the inquiry that since going public with her story more than two years ago, dozens of women were contacting her 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The women, some of whom were former journalists at major media outlets, could relate to how the PR guru’s life had suddenly spun out of control.
‘Becoming homeless … has no discrimination,’ she said. ‘Most of these women came from suburban, normal lifestyles.’
She explained she had come from a time when there was no superannuation, leaving her little to fall back on after she was forced to close her company.
Ms Frost told the inquiry that many women affected by homelessness were not confident in disclosing their situation to friends and family.
Now, the PR executive turned marriage celebrant regularly posts photos from weddings, drinks with friends and trips to the salon.
‘Becoming homeless … has no discrimination,’ Ms Frost told the inquiry on Monday. ‘Most of these women came from suburban, normal lifestyles’
Ms Frost counts Australian TV star Kerri-Anne Kennerley and hairdresser to the stars Joh Bailey as firm friends and regularly posts photos from their get-togethers.
The inquiry into homelessness among older people also heard from Bee Teh, who was recovering from cancer when she found herself with nowhere to live.
After couch-surfing with family, she eventually overstayed her welcome when her sister-in-law told her she had to leave.
Ms Teh said she struggled to find a rental, had no job and no savings, and was forced to sleep in the Campbelltown Hospital carpark before seeking help.
Ms Frost counts Australian TV star Kerri-Anne Kennerley and hairdresser to the stars Joh Bailey (pictured) as firm friends and posts photos from their reunions
She eventually secured permanent accommodation in Sydney’s inner west and got a job at the University of Sydney.
‘A permanent home or permanent residence is very recuperating,’ Ms Teh said.
‘I just hope that there’ll be less homeless people out and about because every rainy day or storm I think of them.’
Homelessness NSW CEO Trina Jones said the state was in crisis and that social housing policy needed to be considered as an essential service.
‘Not an afterthought, but an investment that we commit to in a sustained way that can meet the current and future demand,’ Ms Jones told the inquiry.