Australia's homeless rate is on the rise according to new figures from the Bureau of Statistics.
The 2006 Census figures reveal there is an extra 6000 homeless people living in Australia since the previous census in 2001.
Mission Australia boss Toby Hall says while it comes as no surprise, it is two years on and the current numbers could be even higher.
"We see more people coming to our services. We've had to often turn away people in the past," Mr Hall said.
"Now these numbers relate to 2006 and since that point there's been a significant growth in housing cost, so we think it will be an even bigger growth if the same stats were taken today."