It was an emotional scene in the chambers yesterday when a number of people came forward to share their experiences.

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The first woman to address the council was Allison, and she spoke about her fears of dying on the street.

"I've lost four friends in the last six years living this way," she said.

"They've died around me on the streets. I feel my time is next. Six years I have lived like this, domestic violence brought me here. I had the same home for 20 years - my time is running out."

Deputy mayor Danny Gibson, who was acting as mayor in Albert van Zetten's absence, thanked those who spoke.

While the council passed a motion for a 12-month contract for mobile lockers for those who were homeless during the meeting, Cr Gibson said more could be done.

"All we've provided is the space," he said.

"Let's not pat ourselves on the back and suggest we've done a whole lot of work.

"The challenge today has been set to all of us to work collaboratively, to do what we can with our contacts to respond to this multi-dimensional situation."

Signs were held during the meeting asking for safe spaces.

One sign read that 'children should not be taken away due to parents being homeless', and another stated 'not hopeless, just homeless'.

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Toni also shared her story, and how she works and pays $600 a week to live in a motel.

"I've seen several of my friends die on the streets - beaten, bashed. If not, their drug addiction has gotten worse, alcoholism has taken over," she said.

"I fear for the women, there are a lot of women now. They are really vulnerable.

"Help us, please. My friends are dying."

A young man named Floyd Lacey also addressed the council meeting yesterday about the needs of people living homeless having lived homeless in the past.

"They're doing it really tough, it does something to their mental health," he said.

"Anybody can be affected by not having a roof over their head, or not having a proper place to stay.

Mr Lacey spoke about "horrible things" people experience on the street.

"Living on the street can destroy people," he said.

"They can live normal lives just like anyone else can. They're just homeless, they need to be cared for."

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Stacey Lodge has been living homeless for 27 months and has frequently been told to move on.

"I moved to a church centre and they've asked me to move on," she said.

"Where do I go from here? What am I suppose to do?"

Rowan Eisner, a lecturer for the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, spoke about how housing impacts professionals.

"I had to move seven times in the last eight months," she said.

"I now live in a semi-derelict room with no glass in the windows.

"Every house you apply for has 100 applicants.

"You say it's a state issue and I agree with that ... but you do have some room as council where you can do things."

It was Strike It Out founder Kirsten Ritchie - who created the mobile locker project - who asked the council when action was going to start.

"I don't want to see anymore fatalities," Ms Ritchie said.

"When is actioning going to start happening? We want dates, we need something urgently done right now."

This was specifically in relation to questions put forward to the council, which Cr Gibson said would be responded to in two weeks.

This caused outrage with the people who had just shared their stories.

"Where are my children going to sleep for two weeks?", Ms Lodge pleaded to councillors, her two young children beside her.

Ms Lodge said she feared being moved on again and possibly losing her children.

Ms Ritchie said it wasn't about a roof over peoples' heads.

"We're talking about a space that can be managed, set up in the next month for these people with the basic human rights of services available; running toilets, showers, laundry facilities and services that can come and help them," she said.

"And most importantly, safe."

One man shouted: "How many more have to die on the streets?"

Cr Gibson and fellow councillors were all visibly impacted by the stories.

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Councillor Andrea Dawkins said she was moved by the people who spoke.

"The people who came today want something permanent," she said.

"They want something they feel they have community ownership of as well. People come because they want to be a partner in the solution. This is just the beginning of this conversation.

"We cannot let this issue become just another problem."

Tasmanian Housing Minister Guy Barnett said the state government was delivering social and affordable housing investments.

"We must not lose sight of the fact that our priority must be about getting Tasmanians and Tasmanian families into homes," he said recently.

"And that will be a priority for me as I listen to stakeholders and take action to ensure Tasmanians have a roof over their heads."

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