Anglicare's 2021 Rental Affordability Snapshot found less than half the number of rental properties were available in regional Victoria in March compared to the same time last year.

Fewer than 10 per cent of these were suitable for any type of low income household without putting them into housing stress.

Anglicare Victoria chief executive Paul McDonald said the federal government needed to take action to address the affordable housing 'crisis'.

"The situation is very bad for many, and is worse in 2021 for most groups compared to the year before," he said.

Anglicare researchers examined private rental listings advertised in Victoria on March 27, 2021 and what proportion would be affordable for people living on a minimum wage or income support.

Affordable rentals must cost less than 30 per cent of a household's total income and have enough bedrooms to avoid over-crowding.

Ballarat is listed in the top 10 most affordable local government areas in regional, rural and coastal Victoria for households on income support, sitting at number eight.

On March 27, 5.5 per cent of advertised rental properties were affordable to at least one income group receiving income support, a total of 15 properties.

Ballarat was listed as the fourth most affordable local government area in regional, rural and coastal Victoria for households on the minimum wage with 72.1 per cent or 196 properties available.

The report found renting in regional towns had become less affordable as city dwellers moved to the regions after COVID-19 restrictions lifted.

More than two and a half times more rental properties were available in Melbourne compared to the same time last year, but few were affordable to low income earners.

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Only 15 of the 48 regional local government areas in Victoria had any rental listings available

Researchers found the average weekly rent in the regions ($370) was now close to that of Melbourne ($395).

This compares to average weekly rent of $350 in regional Victoria one year ago.

Of all the properties advertised in Victoria, 0.2 per cent, a total of 53 listings were suitable for a couple with two young children living on JobSeeker.

"In the past year a significant number of low income earners in numerous rural and coastal LGAs have been priced out of the rental market and are competing for a very small number of rental properties on offer," the report writers said.

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Mr McDonald said federal policy intervention such as a national affordable housing strategy or summit was 'becoming critical'.

"The Andrews Government's Big Housing Build and other state initiatives announced during the pandemic will be positive for those at risk of homelessness, fleeing family violence or with mental health issues," he said.

"But with the Federal Government's National Rental Affordability Scheme winding down, it's clear that something else is needed at the Commonwealth level to give a boost to our most vulnerable as rents spiral out of control."

The report called on the federal government to increase the JobSeeker payment and create more housing and support options for people fleeing family violence.

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