Uniting Ballarat housing and homelessness acting coordinator Adam Liversage said people in crisis accommodation would remain in hotels and motels for a longer period of time and receive less face to face support due to restrictions.

"Mental health issues will increase," he said.

"It is not a nice thing being cooped up in a hotel room for a length of time. That is really difficult."

Around 60 per cent of clients supported in crisis accommodation through Uniting in Ballarat had previously been engaged with the service, but it is the fist time many others have made contact to receive help.

Mr Liversage said Uniting had listed 48 households on its over 25s housing priority list since July 1, a number he considered relatively high.

Twenty households were placed on the 25 and under housing priority list in the same period, including 10 young families with children.

Mr Liversage said people cited overcrowding, temporary accommodation, family breakdowns, relationship breakdowns, family violence and release from prison as their reasons for needing accommodation support.

He said a high number of people looking to flee family violence and overcrowded accommodation in Melbourne had made contact with the organisation.

"We are taking a lot of phone calls from people looking for options in Ballarat," Mr Liversage said.

"Unfortunately the only thing we have is hotels and motels and we don't have the funds to be providing crisis accommodation to everyone that wants to present to the Ballarat area.

"It is difficult concentrating on supporting our own local community and our own local homelessness cohort."

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Uniting Ballarat received an extra $49,000 government funding to place people experiencing homelessness into crisis accommodation during the COVID-19 lockdown until the end of September.

"That means we can be more flexible and we can help a lot more people. We are negotiating with local hotels and motels about a weekly rate," Mr Liversage said.

"That relieves worker stress as well. It is quite heartbreaking for entry point workers when you haven't got the funds and have to send people away not able to offer them a bed for the night.

"The entry point workers and Street 2 Home workers are some of the most resilient workers in our community.

"Entry point workers are still having 25 to 30 contacts every day which is massive. We are spending on average just over $3000 a day on crisis accommodation just this week alone."

The recently developed Homelessness Emergency Accommodation Response (HEART) team is ensuing people placed in crisis accommodation receive regular phone contact and support.

This is being achieved with the help of stakeholders like Berry Street and Salvation Army who are working beyond their usual scope of funding.

COVID-19 has created other extra challenges for people experiencing homelessness.

People living temporarily in caravan parks or moving from park to park were kicked out due to COVID-19 restrictions, leaving limited alternative options.

Many people couch surfing may face reduced offers of a place to stay from family, friends and associates due to rising COVID-19 case numbers.

If you are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, you can ring the 24-hour Victorian hotline for assistance on 1800 825 955.

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