NSW mother and daughter facing homelessness amid rental crisis

A working single mother and her daughter are facing homelessness in the New South Wales Hunter region as Australia's rental crisis lurches from bad to worse.

Kim Snelgrove and her daughter Ellie were forced to vacate their rental property by midnight on Monday after their rental agreement was ended without grounds last year.

"I feel like I've failed her as a mother because I can't keep a roof over her head," the heartbroken Snelgrove told 9News.

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She said she has applied for hundreds of other rentals in Cessnock since last December but is yet to find one.

"There's nothing I can do... the inspection I went to the other day, 60 people showed up," Snelgrove said.

"So you've got a one in 60 chance of getting a house."

Snelgrove has also been unsuccessful in accessing support from local homeless services, which has only added to the stress on the family.

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Maitland-based homeless organisation, Carrie's Place, has seen a 50 per cent increase in referrals this year alone.

"We can't move anybody on because there are no homes that we can move them on to," CEO Jayne Clowes said.

"We're just completely at capacity.

"Sometimes we're giving out tents and sleeping bags because that's the only option."

A NSW Department of Communities and Justice spokesperson said it is investing $1.2 billion towards a range of homelessness and social housing programs from 2022 to 2023.

"Tackling homelessness is one of the Government's priorities," the spokesperson said in a statement.

"DCJ also runs the Community Housing Innovation Fund, which is set to deliver more than 700 dwellings across NSW, including around 220 by the end of 2023. The Social and Affordable Housing Fund aims to deliver 3486 dwellings across NSW by the end of 2024."

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Meanwhile, a Department of Social Services spokesperson said they are "sorry to hear" about the lack of affordable homes and the battle the Snelgrove family is facing.

"Safe and affordable housing is central to the security and dignity of all Australians," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson took aim at the previous federal government's inaction leading to an increase in homelessness and promised the Albanese government plans to tackle affordable housing.

"Almost a decade of housing policy inaction at a federal level has left us with serious challenges across the country," the spokesperson said.

"The Albanese government has a strong set of policies that we took to the election to help address these challenges and we are already working hard to fulfil these commitments."

As government agencies make promises to supply more affordable housing, Snelgrove simply pleaded for help as she and her daughter face the brink of homelessness.

"There should be something out there. Someone out there that can help," she said.