Staff at Wattle Tree House, which provides support to individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of being homeless, said it was difficult to secure even short-term housing for clients in crisis.

Kerry Vincent, Team Leader at Wattle Tree House, said there were a combination of factors for the shortage, but said regional relocation as a result of Covid-19 last year was a significant factor.

He also said there is little to no turn around in the Bathurst rental market, aggravating the situation.

With unprecedented demand on the number of properties available, rental prices are high, locking low income earners out.

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"Low income earners can't compete," he said.

"There are 30 to 40 people turning up to a view, and we're finding people are offering more than the property is advertised for."

He said the situation is so dire, even short term accommodation is difficult to source, meaning clients have to take temporary accommodation at Cowra, Lithgow or anywhere they can get it.

Mr Vincent said if the family have school aged children, they have to collect the work from school, take it with them, and do it remotely.

"Some families don't know where they are sleeping from day to day.

"We're putting them on a bus or public transport to go to Cowra for the weekend, because we've found accommodation there, but after that, they don't know where they will be.

He said in six years working in the industry he has never seen this situation.

"Normally we'd have 1,00 clients in a year, this financial year, we've had 1,100. We're sitting at 100 per cent already and have a waitlist of 30 clients."

"Our crisis units are are full, we have 17 transitional properties which are full, and we still have people waiting.

Mr Vincent said Wattle Tree House are working closely with both Department of Community and Justice and Member for Bathurst, Paul Toole. Mr Toole said "he had made representations to the Minister" on their behalf.