The Salvation Army's national survey of more than 2700 clients who sought assistance found that 28 per cent did not have a decent and secure home.

Rebecca Miller and Wendy Armour, who run youth residential services for the Salvation Army Oasis Youth Network in southern Canberra, have both noticed that clients are staying with them sometimes months longer than may have been the case in the past.

Ms Armour said young people on Youth Allowance, NewStart or a disability pension could not afford to access the private rental market and could face long waits for public housing.

''There aren't some of the exit options that there used to be,'' she said. ''Obviously private rental is too expensive, unless they're working hard and even then it's often hard.''

While traditionally some young people had found accommodation in Queanbeyan, finding affordable housing in the border city had become more difficult. ''Even if you get housing there it's difficult because they've got to get buses in [to Canberra] which isn't great,'' Ms Armour said.

The national survey found that many people seeking help from the Salvation Army were regularly missing meals. Ms Miller said some of the young people accessing her service met this description.

''I wouldn't say a lot of them look malnourished but they've been skipping meals,'' she said,

Some of Oasis' clients had gained access to training through an Education Fund but the fund is currently empty due to a lack of recent donations. Ms Armour said the lives of many of her former clients had improved once they were able to access the help they needed.

''There's quite a few that work in the [community services] sector and they're brilliant,'' she said.

The ACT government last week announced a $3.6 million cut to services for the homeless.

Housing Minister Shane Rattenbury said the government had been subsidising services to make up for Commonwealth funding cuts but could no longer afford to do so.