The charity is encouraging Australians to be a “souperhero” and raise funds by living on soup this week.

Salvation Army regional manager North Anita Reeve said the Launceston branch was doing its bit by hosting the community lunches.

“We’re finding specifically in Launceston there’s an increase in homelessness because there’s a lack of affordable accommodation for people,” she said.

“Young people are becoming more displaced and a lot of them are couch surfing or saying at a friend’s place.”

The lunches are held in the Salvation Army’s Elizabeth Street base between noon and 1pm. Soup is free for clients and a gold coin for everyone else.

“This is a bit of a pun on the superhero thing but soup is really a staple food for a lot of people living on $17 a day,” Ms Reeve said.

“This is also giving people the opportunity to come alongside people who are in that circumstance.”