The figures come as around 40 households in the south-west remain in emergency accommodation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The private rental vacancy rate for Warrnambool was 1.3 per cent in June with some agents reporting a vacancy rate of less than one per cent.

Salvation Army Homelessness Wimmera and South West manager Lindsay Stow said the pandemic had seen an increase in people needing accommodation because they could no longer couch surf or stay with family and friends.

He said the government had said it would extend funding through to April, but there was uncertainty for people in emergency accommation once restrictions eased.

"For those people there's a bit of a question mark at this stage," he said.

"There's a lot more than we would normally experience seeing.

"With the restrictions they have to have somewhere to stay. Couch surfing isn't an option.

"They're also contained to a small place, a motel room. And you are restricted by what you can go out and do.

"That is pressure in itself and it's not great.

"What will happen when government support starts to wind back, when restrictions ease."

Mr Stow said there was a huge need for social housing and in the past there had been little additional public housing to the local region.

He said it was also difficult to get housing for single people and small households.

"Most who exit emergency housing would go to a private rental or public housing," he said.

"There is limited options. It's really difficult."

Mr Stow said he was grateful to local accommodation providers for their support.

According to Homelessness Australia, nationally there was a social housing shortfall of about 433,000 properties and around 116,000 people are homeless on any given night.

Chair of Homelessness Australia Jenny Smith released heatmaps which showed homelessness was a problem in all Australian communities, whether they be remote, regional or metropolitan.

"People often think homelessness is an issue mainly in cities and CBDs, but the maps show that to be a myth," she said.

"The lack of housing that people can afford is not only the biggest cause of homelessness, but it also prevents people escaping from homelessness."

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