A Taste of Homelessness

Last Friday night, I joined more than 280 people at Hobart City Mission’s 2026 Sleep Rough Challenge, raising funds and awareness for the thousands of Tasmanians who live with the reality of homelessness every day – and for the overstretched services that support them.

Sleep Rough has been an annual event for the past five years, and I’ve taken part in every one because I’m passionate about making a difference in the lives of people doing it tough.

Homelessness in Tasmania has become an increasingly serious issue in recent years. Many people across the state are being forced to live in temporary accommodation or cars, or to sleep on the streets, due to a shortage of affordable housing, rising rents, low vacancy rates, family violence, mental health challenges, and broader cost-of-living pressures.

At the same time, housing is widely recognised as a basic human right because safe, stable housing is essential to a person’s health, safety, dignity, education, employment, and ability to participate in society.

On Friday, I left my house in Glenorchy at 4:30pm after rugging up and putting on the Sleep Rough beanie I got in 2024. I drove into Hobart and parked in Battery Point before heading over to Princes Wharf 1 (PW1), where the Sleep Rough Challenge was being held, and chose a spot against the wharf-side wall. Grabbing a few pieces of cardboard from a pile in the corner, I laid my sleeping bag on top and then went over to the food stall and got a cup of potato and leek soup and a bread roll for dinner. Soup is often what people sleeping rough on the street have for dinner.

After some speeches and a video presentation, a bed that’d been made up inside PW1 was auctioned for $650. The buyer then kindly donated it to a woman using a walker.

The 1995 film Babe began playing on a projector after that. I chose not to watch it, instead deciding to hunker down for the night. It took me a while to fall asleep because my cardboard mattress was hard and uncomfortable, but thankfully my sleeping bag insulated me against the cold.

After a few hours of interrupted, uneven sleep, I woke up at approximately 4:00am and couldn’t drift back off. I eventually got up and, after making a cup of instant coffee, plonked myself at a table set up with paper and coloured texters and did some doodling.

Breakfast and barista-made coffee were served from 6:00am. After having a cappuccino and an egg-and-bacon roll, I packed up my things and left PW1. As I walked back to my car, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief and gratitude – the same feeling I get after every Sleep Rough Challenge. Unlike so many other Tasmanians, I had a home to return to.

Homelessness hits crisis point

There are over 5,500 people on Tasmania’s social housing register (wait list), according to Homes Tasmania data reported by the ABC, while demand for Hobart City Mission’s homelessness services has reached crisis levels. At the same time, government funding has not kept up with the growing need.

Hobart City Mission CEO Harvey Lennon said every dollar raised through Sleep Rough helps vulnerable Tasmanians get back on their feet.

Hobart City Mission CEO Harvey Lennon at the 2026 Sleep Rough Challenge.

“We’re seeing more people than ever, from all walks of life, reaching out for help,” he said.

“We’re a lifeline for Hobart’s most disadvantaged, no matter how complex their needs, but our crisis accommodation is full every night. We also provide the wrap-around support that helps people settle into a new home and breaks the cycles which lead to homelessness.

“With little certainty around funding in the upcoming state budget to maintain our existing services, let alone cope with the growing need, it’s heartening to see our community step up to fill help fill these critical gaps.”

Hobart City Mission Partnerships Specialist and Sleep Rough coordinator Mariah Jardine said the charity is thrilled with the response to this year’s Sleep Rough.

“Donations remain open throughout May at sleeprough.com.au, so we’re calling on everyone to join the fight against homelessness and help us reach our target.

“We need people, businesses, and organisations to dig deep and donate so we can help those who need it most this winter.”

So far, $235,304 has been raised. Hobart City Mission’s target is $300,000.

Funds raised through Sleep Rough support Hobart City Mission programs for young families, single parents, and older Tasmanians, as well as the Safe Day and Safe Night emergency relief spaces, food packs, and vouchers.

Sleep Rough organisers Taesha McInnes (left) and Mariah Jardine (right).

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Callum J. Jones is passionate about telling stories. He studied English, History, and Journalism at the University of Tasmania and lived in Western Sydney from 2022 to 2024 while working as a journalist for Professional Planner, a leading online publication for financial planners. Callum has written for Tasmanian Times since 2018 and has also been published in a range of other outlets, including Quadrant and the BAD Western Sydney anthologies.