It was a long time coming, but the Sierra Roots/No Place to Go Project Singer-Songwriter Contest is pleased to announce the winners of its singer-songwriter contest for inspiring songs about homelessness.

By unanimous decision of the judges, the winning songs and their writers are:

“Hey, All You People Now” by Laurie Fanara. Laurie taught herself to play a six-string ukelele while she was homeless and living in her car for several years. She is passionate about writing songs about homelessness and supporting skaters and skateboarders. Laurie is one of two winners who attended the Sierra Roots/No Place to Go Project Singer-Songwriter Workshop last fall.

Walt Webb of Rough & Ready, one of the winners of the Sierra Roots/No Place to Go Project’s singer-songwriter contest, dramatically staged his winning entry “Holdin’ on for Home” in an old pickup truck in his backyard. Webb and the other winners will perform their songs in a concert hosted by professional singer-songwriters Bob Woods and Juliet Gobert in June. | Photo by Tom Durkin
Walt Webb of Rough & Ready, one of the winners of the Sierra Roots/No Place to Go Project’s singer-songwriter contest, dramatically staged his winning entry “Holdin’ on for Home” in an old pickup truck in his backyard. Webb and the other winners will perform their songs in a concert hosted by professional singer-songwriters Bob Woods and Juliet Gobert in June. | Photo by Tom Durkin

“Holdin’ on for Home” by Walt Webb. A retired teacher with a flair for the dramatic, Walt’s heartfelt a cappella song captures the pain and frustration of a man who cannot provide a home for his family. Walt is also a winner from the singer-songwriter workshop.

“Someone Without a Home” by Heather Grove. An accomplished singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and music teacher, Heather composed and performed this evocative song as a four-piece ensemble about a homeless woman in a shelter.

“A YIMBY Song” (Yes, In My BackYard) by Stephen Greenberg. Stephen sings with all the sincerity and fervor of a 1960s folksinger. Although he’s been writing songs for 56 years, he’s never had a band or been recorded on an album.

These four winners will have their songs professionally recorded by Paul Emery Music of  Nevada City. Their songs will be included on an album featuring original compositions  by Sierra Roots/No Place to Go Project’s musical directors Bob Woods and Juliet Gobert (GO-bear).

The Sierra Roots/No Place to Go Project is funded by a grant from the Upstate California Creative Corps, a program of the California Arts Council. The Project is a campaign to influence public policy and opinion by proposing common-sense changes in housing laws and raising awareness of homeless issues.

Tom Durkin is the creative director of the Sierra Roots/No Place to Go Project (SR/NPTGP). He may be contacted at tomdurkin@sierra-roots.org or www.project.sierra-roots.org.