What about $9.57 a day to cover gas and electricity bills, petrol or myki card and food?

This is the grim reality for thousands of Australians visiting Salvation Army Emergency Relief centres.

The financial situation is so tight one in eight have been forced to live on the streets or in temporary accommodation, a new national survey reveals.

Others who find accommodation have been forced to skip meals and health services.

The national survey of 2406 visitors to Salvation Army Community Support Services found those on Newstart allowance hardest hit with just $9.57 a day to live off when accommodation expenses were paid.

An average of all those visiting the centres showed just $17.86 a day to live off when accommodation expenses were paid.

Things most people take for granted are jettisoned to survive.

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And it isn't just adults doing it tough. Of the children represented, many parents could not afford out of school activities such as, sports trips and camps, and in a third of cases, fruit and vegetables on a daily basis.

The annual snapshot found most of those surveyed were on government support payments (nine out of 10) with the Newstart allowance and the disability support pension the most common payments.

This year's federal budget included a measure to not pay the Newstart allowance for the first month of unemployment for those under 25.

The Salvation Army's Dr Bruce Redman described this measure as "cruel".

He said a month with no government support could mean an increase in predatory payday loans, families harassed for money and people getting behind on utility bills.

"There may be temptations to gamble to meet your money shortage and it could encourage crime," he said.

He said people could do terrible things when desperate.

Nearly 60 per cent of those surveyed had either delayed or stopped paying their utility bills – escalating their debt.

One of the biggest contributors to financial stress was finding a roof, with accommodation accounting for almost two-thirds of income.

Just over half of those visiting the support service were in private rental housing, a third in public or community housing, while one in eight had no home at all and were living in temporary accommodation/couchsurfing.

The survey shows a cycle of poverty with half of those looking for work having been unemployed for up to 12 months.

Many of those unemployed have a physical or mental health condition, others have parenting or care responsibilities.

"It is difficult to find more hours to work. As a single mother of one I am struggling ... paying all the unseen bills has made my health really bad," one respondent said.

Trevor Wulf knows what it's like to have no job, no roof and no hope.

He was laid off from Kodak and quickly lost his payout gambling on horses and at the casino.

"I had no money for accommodation and was too embarrassed to tell my parents," he said.

Mr Wulf said the most important thing is affordable accommodation.

He was helped by The Salvation Army and now lives in a joint accommodation project ran by the Collingwood Football Club called Magpie Nest.

Dr Redman said the survey showed accomodation stress was having a staggering impact.

"We need more affordable accommodation – people are going to need to live and eat so accommodation will be left by the wayside. We are already seeing people living in cars," he said.

"We are heading to Victorian-era England where three families lived in a couple of rooms," he said.

He said while the government offered small businesses a $20,000 tax incentive to spend up in the budget, there was little to help those at the margins.

"They don't have $20," he said.

He said while government agencies are pushing everyone online to access services, two thirds surveyed could not afford the internet.

"We have seen ridiculous debts with phone companies because people have got to remain connected. Kids need to look stuff up," he said.

National survey of 2406 people visiting 262 Salvation Army community centres

Median $125 per week to live on after accommodation – $17.86 per day

Falls to $9.57 a day if you are on Newstart

59 per cent delayed or unable to pay utility bills

57 per cent have gone without meals

68 per cent go without dental treatment

36 per cent go without prescribed medicine

63 per cent were women

57 per cent reported physical or mental health issues that were barriers to them looking for work

13 per cent were homeless