"The demand is crippling - in the 12 years I have worked in the homelessness and domestic violence sector I have never seen anything like this," she said.

However, she has offered some suggestions including providing a variety of extra housing covering all areas - affordable, temporary accommodation, social housing, medium density and private rentals.

"We need variety and that's what works," she said.

"If we have a little bit of everything hopefully it will meet the community's demand.

"Certainly, more housing is the answer but I know it's not that simple. There are complex issues - everything from finding the available land through to our environmental responsibilities.

"It's a balancing act and I believe that it is not a simple solution.

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"I personally think we need a mixed approach, where you have some affordable housing, private rentals and social housing.

"Unfortunately, our clients cannot afford market rentals, and they need the social housing rental properties.

"Some of our clients can't live in high density housing - they need their own property, they need their own space, especially our clients who have children or pets."

She said there needs to be an "increase in social housing" from the state government.

"We need more social housing for our more vulnerable clients and community members."

She said local services trying to help people in crisis are finding it frustrating, with attempts to secure temporary accommodation and at times they can be "blocked at every turn".

"There is so much demand for temporary accommodation at the moment and this is putting pressure on providers," she said.

"We have six beds at our refuge, covering from Berry to Ulladulla, and we have a waiting list that is so long, and it can be frustrating for clients because we cannot assist them as quickly as they need.

"We have a four week wait on our outreach case management, just to allocate somebody to support someone takes four weeks.

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"Until we get enough permanent housing there is not going to be a solution."

While she said private developers have a role in this, there is a needed increase in social housing.

"For some of our vulnerable people, moving every six months or 12 months is expensive and is out of the question," she said.

"For a vulnerable older woman, the private rental market doesn't necessarily solve her homelessness.

"The way the lease arrangements exist in NSW, someone can just be given 90 days and they have to find somewhere else to live.

"We are seeing it at the moment, people being issued notices of termination, which they [the landlords] don't need a reason for, they can just say 90 days.

"Three months is not sufficient for someone to be able to find something out there that is affordable. Especially when there is nothing available.

"Our clients that received Centrelink payments are finding it difficult to secure and sustain a private rental."

She said the market demand is greater than supply, which in turn is driving up demand and the prices which in turn can make it difficult for clients to afford.

"What worries me about the increasing supply and demand problem is that it drives up prices so that only people who can afford expensive housing can live here," she said.

Ms Labka, as SAHSSI Shoalhaven manager, oversees the running of the Shoalhaven Homeless Hub, supporting Team Leader Julie Bugden and the specialist women's homeless domestic violence service, which includes a refuge in Nowra and outreach support.

"We work with vulnerable women who are homeless or at risk of being homeless and the Homeless Hub who looks after everybody," she said

And she was quick to add that demand for all services at the moment was the highest it has been in several years."

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