Counting the Homeless states 1843 people in the municipalities of Maribyrnong, Moonee Valley, Hobsons Bay and Brimbank were recorded as homeless and 837 people living in crisis accommodation, based on 2006 Census data. That was a 10per cent increase on the 2001 census.

The report shows the rate of homelessness in the western suburbs is 44 people per 10,000 residents, which is the second highest outside the inner Melbourne municipalities of Melbourne, Prahran, Yarra and Port Phillip, where the rate was 129 homeless people per 10,000.

The report also stated that of the homeless people in the west:

* 599 people were 'couch surfing' (temporarily living with relatives or friends).

* 288 people were living in boarding houses with no separate bedroom or living room and no private kitchen or bathroom facilities.

* 50 people were living in caravan parks.

* 50 were living on the streets.

Melbourne Citymission homelessness accommodation manager Nada Vindis said an alarming number of families were seeking crisis accommodation or living in their cars because there was not enough public and crisis housing.

She was critical of "sub-standard" rooming houses and caravan parks but said they were often the only option available. Ms Vindis said homelessness was a failure of society, not the individual, and proper urban planning played a role.

David Wright-Howie, chief executive of the Council to Homeless Persons, the peak body for homelessness services, said the figures might under-state the problem, given the global financial crisis and high demand for rental property.

He said CHP had launched a campaign to clean up rooming houses in the western suburbs, where a large number of homeless population live temporarily.

Mr Wright-Howie welcomed the State Government's plans to revise its homelessness strategy, but said there were people in need now.

"We really need the money to start flowing now because it's getting quite urgent for lots and lots of people. If we're really going to achieve the target [of halving homelessness by 2020], the commitment needs to be sustainable over time."