In a pre-budget submission to the federal government, homelessness advocacy group, Everybody's Home, said data from SQM research predicted by June, homelessness would increase by a fifth on 2016 census numbers.

Campaign spokeswoman Kate Colvin said the figures showed a "really big rise".

She said the pre-budget submission recommended a joint Commonwealth/state-territory investment of $7.7 billion to construct 30,000 new homes over the next four years.

"Thirty thousand properties is not going to end homelessness, but it was the amount we identified that we'd be able to deliver in the next four years," she said.

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The submission also recommended a 50 per cent increase to Commonwealth Rent Assistance to more adequately subsidise private rental costs for low-income tenants.

"It is now more important than ever for the federal government to invest directly into building social housing, provide adequate income support for our most vulnerable and provide an increase in rental support for those facing housing stress," Ms Colvin said.

Ms Colvin said rising rental prices was a key factor contributing to the lack of affordable housing for low-income earners.

"Over the past 12 months, rents in the Murray region have increased by 11.6 per cent," she said.

"The government has focused on options that are more in the private market to do with homeowners, now that HomeBuilder is ending, our hope is that they'll see the enormous opportunity that public housing presents to stimulate the construction industry."

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