Next week will be Homelessness Week 2021 (2-8 August), and many organisations around the state have been busy planning and organising.

Across Tasmania there will be a range of events to raise awareness of people experiencing homelessness, the issues they face and the actions needed to achieve enduring solutions.

Homelessness affects people of all ages and across all regions. According to the last census in 2016, over 1600 people will experience homelessness on any given night in Tasmania. This could mean sleeping rough or living in insecure, unsafe, overcrowded or inappropriate accommodation.

The theme for Homelessness Week in Tasmania this year is Housing Ends Homelessness, and a variety of events will be held right around the state, including opportunities to hear the stories of people with lived experience of homelessness, celebrate the people and organisations who work hard to deliver homelessness services, learn more about homelessness in the community and support those who need assistance.

Shelter Tas has co-ordinated the Tasmanian calendar of events again this year, with a list of the activities to be held detailed below. Please go to the Shelter Tas website for full details of all the events during Homelessness Week, and keep a look out for any last minute updates to the calendar.

The website also contains lots of useful resources, including factsheets, logos, posters and a social media tile that you can use to help promote your events. And don’t forget to support Homelessness Week on social media by using the hashtags #HW2021 and #housingendshomelessness.

Mon 2 August, online

9:30am to 10:00am

Minister’s Official Welcome to HW2021

Minister for Housing Michael Ferguson MP will officially welcome Tasmanians and invite them to engage in National Homelessness Week across Tasmania. You will be able to access the video for the duration of HW2021. More information
Mon 2 August, CatholicCare, Launceston

10:30am to 12:30pm

Homelessness Week Morning Tea 

You are invited join CatholicCare Tasmania Housing Connect Support and other services in the housing sector for a morning tea to mark Homelessness Week 2021. Anyone with an interest in supporting tenants is welcome to come along. More information
Mon 2 August, Online

11:00am to 12:15pm

Homelessness Week National Launch 

National Homelessness Week will start with the ABC’s Patricia Karvelas in discussion with Dr Angela Jackson on her report, Nowhere to go: the benefits of providing long term social housing to women who have experienced domestic and family violence. This will be followed by a panel discussion. More information
Tues 3 August, Queens Domain, Hobart

7:30am to 8:30am

Vinnies Breakfast

Join St Vincent de Paul for breakfast to raise awareness of homelessness in Hobart. There will be free hot drinks and breakfast pizzas available, plus guest speakers, activities and the opportunity to donate. More information
Tues 3 August, Rosny Library, Rosny Park

10:00am to 11:30am

Clarence Talks – Homelessness in Clarence

Find out all you need to know about homelessness in Clarence and what is being done to help our homeless community.

Presented by Clarence City Council, Salvation Army and Rosny Library – this is a free ticketed event. More information
Tues 3 August. Clarence City Council Lawns

12:00pm to 2:00pm

Unlocking the Door to Home

Learn from services about homelessness in Clarence. Find out what you can do to help in a practical way.

Free sausage sizzle, hot drinks, hot soup and activities.

This event is a collaboration between Clarence City Council, The Salvation Army and The Lions Club. More information
Tues 3 August, Mawson Place, Hobart

2:00pm to 3:00pm

Launch of ‘Hobart Helps’ Card

Join the City of Hobart for the launch of the Hobart Helps card. This pocket size resource provides information to assist people find the help that they need. More information
Tues 3 August, Mawson Place, Hobart

2:00pm to 3:00pm

‘I am Somebody’ Exhibition Opening

The second iteration of the I am Somebody exhibition shows personal and moving audio and photographic interviews that highlight the strength and resilience of local people who have experienced or who still are experiencing homelessness. The exhibition continues until Friday 6 August. More information
Wed 4 August, Town Hall, Hobart

2:00pm to 4:00pm

Children’s Homelessness Forum

This special Homelessness Week forum will engage the audience in discussion about the future of co-ordinated care provision for unaccompanied children experiencing homelessness, and will include a report on recent policy developments. Bookings are essential. More information
Thur 5 August, Town Hall, Hobart

9:00am to 12:00pm

Palliative Care Homelessness Forum

Key Tasmanian stakeholders, service providers and those with lived experience are invited to come together to brainstorm a set of nationally selected questions about palliative care and homelessness. The intention is to formulate this information into a national policy statement and recommendations. More information
Thur 5 August, Civic Square, Launceston

10:30am to 2:30pm

Homelessness Information Event

Vinnies, along with Karinya Young Women’s Service, Housing Connect and Shekinah House will be holding an event in Civic Square, Launceston to provide information and support around homelessness issues. More information to come
Fri 6th August, New Norfolk Rowing Club carpark

7:30am to 9:00am

Salvos Breakfast in New Norfolk

The Salvation Army will be holding a Homelessness Week 2021 event at The New Norfolk Rowing Club carpark at the esplanade in New Norfolk.

The Salvos will be cooking bacon and egg rolls with tea and coffee, and are inviting people to come along and have breakfast and discuss the issues of homelessness in the Derwent Valley. More information
Fri 6 August, Kingston Neighbourhood House

10:00am to 1:00pm

Kingston Neighbourhood House Launch Event

On Friday 6 August, Kingston Neighbourhood House will be launching the weekly presence of Orange Sky Laundry at KNH. Kingston Library will also be there to offer literacy and numeracy support.

Representatives from the local community and a guest speaker will be there to welcome Orange Sky to Kingston Neighbourhood House. Light refreshments will be available. More information
Fri 6 August, The Argosy Hotel, East Devonport

12:30pm to 3:00pm

YFCC Homelessness Week Luncheon

As part of Homelessness Week 2021, Youth, Family and Community Connections will be holding a luncheon to raise community awareness regarding youth homelessness. The event will include guest speakers Felix Ellis MP and Pattie Chugg from Shelter Tas. By invitation only. More information
Fri 6 August, Mathers House, Hobart

12:30pm

Homes for All – Event Launch

Join  Centacare Evolve Housing and CatholicCareTasmania to raise awareness about homelessness in Tasmania and say ‘Yes In My Backyard’!

They will be showcasing perspectives from students and young people and highlighting how their programs and approaches enable positive outcomes. They are leading conversations and seeking to answer questions around how we empower communities to support the 4,000+ people currently on the Housing Register. More information