Lola in the Mirror

Drawing on his own experiences, Trent Dalton delves into Brisbane’s housing crisis in Lola in the Mirror. Like other authors, such as Jeannette Walls in her memoir, The Glass Castle (2005), Dalton tackles the harsh realities of unstable housing. Although Queensland, Australia is considered a desirable place to live, this area, including Brisbane, struggles with an increasing population of unhoused people. Many are currently on social housing waitlists and can remain there for years. Lola shares an example of this in the novel: “June’s been on the social housing wait list for the past two years […]. The apartment blocks are full. The caravan parks are full. The shelters are full” (218-19). June’s situation reflects that of many in Brisbane, which results not just from a shortage of housing but also from steep rental prices and an increase in population. Since 2017, homelessness has risen exponentially, and about 10,000 people in southeast Queensland alone lack permanent shelters (Kruk, Courtney. “Brisbane’s Slippery Slope: From Housing Woes to Skid Row.” Brisbane Times, 4 Mar. 2024). Consequently, many reside in tents or sleep unsheltered along the Brisbane