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Health
Lucy MacDonald with photography by Maren Preuss

Daily struggle for homeless who have set up tents passed by pedestrians every morning at Hobart's Rivulet Park

Tasha says she used to feel embarrassed about her situation but it was exhausting. (ABC News: Maren Preuss )

It is a regular weekday morning in Hobart, and the city's popular Rivulet Park track is busy with pedestrians and cyclists.

Few seemed to have noticed the campsite that has popped up off to the side of the track in recent months — but the campsite's residents are keenly aware of those on the track. 

"It was embarrassing for the first few weeks out here," Tasha said.

"I'd run into the tent … trying not to be seen. 

"I got to the stage where I just can't keep doing it. So I just sit here and chill now."

Tasha and her partner Tyson established the campsite a few months ago when the car they were living in broke down.

"We spent three days walking, which killed us," she said.

"Non-stop walking to try and find somewhere that was accessible to the city and showers, which is here." 

The campsite is close to the Rivulet track, which is popular with walkers and cyclists.  (ABC News: Maren Preuss )

The spot is far from private, but the couple said being partly in the open offered a sense of security, and it was a short walk into town. 

"It's not ideal; we don't want to be parked in people's faces as much as they don't want to see us here of a morning."

The couple is joined on and off by others also living rough. 

The camp is next to a popular walking track that leads from South Hobart into the city.  (ABC News: Maren Preuss )

For the past two months, that has included Brooke* and Anthony.

"I was actually in a tent by myself before here, but it's just not safe enough," Brooke said.

"I couldn't leave everything and go anywhere because I don't know if it's going to be there when I come back.

"I actually went to the op shop and bought a pair of men's boots and used to sit them outside the tent so it looked like a man was in the tent."

Brooke ended up homeless after fleeing a family violence situation. That was about eight months ago.

Since then, she has spent four months on the street and four in prison.

When she was arrested, she did not even apply for bail, explaining it was simpler to stay in prison "and be cared for".

She has been out for two months.

"The daily things that you take for granted; washing, showering, cooking, just basic everyday human needs are hard to meet," she explained.

"Your day's just filled up with your daily routine of getting your food for that day... where you're going to wash your clothes or have your shower."

Campers  wash their clothes at nearby shower facilities and then hang them around the camp to dry. (ABC News: Maren Preuss)

The closest showers are in a multi-level car park, about a 15-minute walk away through the city. 

The campers use toilets at a nearby venue when they can, but their possessions are always at risk. 

"Some days, it's a matter of taking shifts," Brooke said. 

"We don't want to leave the whole place unattended because we're not sure what's going to happen because we can't secure anything."

Food is a daily problem.

There is little room to store it, no proper cooking facilities, and things go off fast. 

Anthony says he had no option but to set up camp at the rivulet.  (ABC News: Maren Preuss )

Anthony said it could be "just easier to go back to jail".

"You've got food; you have a roof over your head; you've got dry clothes, dry blankets."

It is something he said he had thought about "plenty of times" – and he is not alone.

"There are crimes I could commit as a means of survival to make life easier, and if I was to be caught, then yeah, life's easier [in prison]," said Brooke.

Most of the tents are old or damaged and leak on rainy days. They need constant repair.  (ABC News: Maren Preuss )

Summer has just ended, and the weather in Hobart is still warm, but the group is already bracing for the colder months.

It rained recently, and members of the public donated tarpaulins to help make the tents more waterproof.

What they really need are new tents and, in an ideal world, a car.

When Tyson had transport, he worked as a scaffolder on public housing projects, but that became impossible when the car broke down. 

"If we had a car, I could just be in the car during the day," Tasha said. 

"A car leads to everything. It leads to a job, which leads to money, which leads to a house."

Tyson prepares to run some errands on foot, including having a shower somewhere and finding his next meal.  (ABC News: Maren Preuss )

Brooke wants any politician who is game to sit down and talk with her.

"How about listen to us? Have a talk to us, the people that are in this situation," she said.

"We're people; we're good people, we're honest people and just doing our best to get by.

"We're not necessarily looking for a handout, just a hand."

*Name has been changed

Some tents are used for sleeping and others for storing belongings.  (ABC News: Maren Preuss )
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