Songs from the Street
Songs from the Street raises awareness, reduces the stigma about homelessness.
In 2026, Songs from the Street returned on Thursday 6 August, once again bringing the Hobart community together during Homelessness Week.
As the event entered its fourth year, it stood as an example of what can be achieved when local government, community organisations, service providers, businesses and residents work together with a shared commitment to dignity, inclusion and opportunity.
This year's raised funds went directly to Street to Home.
While Songs from the Street is a celebration, it is also a reminder of the challenges that remain. Across Hobart, too many people continue to experience homelessness, housing stress and barriers to essential services. The causes are complex, ranging from a shortage of affordable housing and rising living costs to health challenges, family violence and social isolation.
The City of Hobart continues to work alongside the Housing with Dignity Reference Group, homelessness services, housing organisations and community partners to address these issues. Through initiatives such as Health with Dignity, the Hobart Helps Card, advocacy for affordable housing, support for community organisations and projects that foster social inclusion, the City is helping to build a city where everyone can participate, contribute and belong.
Songs from the Street reminds us that behind every statistic is a person with talents, aspirations and a story worth hearing. What began in 2023 as a bold and innovative idea has grown into a powerful community movement one that continues to challenge stigma, create opportunities and celebrate the strength, creativity and resilience that exists throughout our city.
A Story of Music, Connection and Dignity
In 2023, amid a growing housing and homelessness crisis across Tasmania, a simple but powerful idea emerged from the City of Hobart's Housing with Dignity Reference Group. Create a space where people experiencing homelessness or severe housing stress could be seen not through the lens of disadvantage, but through their talent, creativity and potential.
Held during Homelessness Week in August 2023, the inaugural event brought together musicians, community members, service providers and local industry leaders for something that had never been tried before in Hobart. Rather than focusing solely on the challenges of homelessness, Street to Stage celebrated the voices, stories and artistic abilities of people who were experiencing or recovering from homelessness and housing stress. The event provided a supportive stage for performers, meaningful opportunities to connect with the music industry, and a chance for the wider community to come together around a positive cause.
The impact was immediate. More than a music event, Street to Stage became a community-building initiative. It challenged stereotypes, created new opportunities for participants, and raised funds for Health with Dignity, an Australia-first program developed by the City of Hobart's Housing with Dignity Reference Group in partnership with The Salvation Army. The program helps people in extreme need access free GP appointments, recognising that good health care is often out of reach for people facing homelessness.
What made Street to Stage unique was its person-centred approach. Participants were supported before, during and after the event. Many performers went on to build confidence, form new friendships, secure performance opportunities, join local music groups, access mentoring and further develop their artistic ambitions. The event demonstrated that when people are given genuine opportunities and supportive environments, they can thrive.
Following the success of the inaugural event, the initiative continued to evolve. In 2024, the program expanded with stronger partnerships, increased media interest and broader community engagement. The event continued to showcase musicians, spoken word artists and performers who had lived experience of homelessness or housing stress, while also raising awareness of the systemic issues driving housing insecurity in Hobart. Local artists, community partners and sponsors rallied behind the program, helping to create pathways for participants to connect with the broader creative community.
By 2025, the event had been reimagined and relaunched as Songs from the Street. The new name reflected both the spirit of the initiative and its growing identity within Hobart's cultural calendar. Songs from the Street continued the tradition of celebrating emerging talent while highlighting the realities faced by many people in our community.