Ms Watson, who stands in the Belconnen electorate of Ginninderra, is well known in political circles. She is now communications manager for a peak body for the not-for-profit sector.

She cites the lack of affordable housing as a major failing of the government.

Canberra had the second highest rate of homelessness in the country and was one of the most unaffordable places to buy a home or rent, with about 19,600 households face housing stress, she said.

The government had "failed to respond in any meaningful way", with affordable housing policies put in place by former Labor Leader Jon Stanhope now only tokenistic.

"It is imperative that we look at developing options for people on the bottom 40 per cent of incomes," she said. "People who are earning in the top 60 per cent can afford housing generally, but if we don't look at options for people in the bottom 40 per cent then we are going to look at a growing homeless rate, growing poverty and a group of people who are totally disenfranchised."

Not having a home had repercussions throughout people's lives, exacerbating problems with domestic violence, unemployment, and the basics of everyday life, such as getting children to school.

"Housing's not just about having somewhere to live. It's about having something safe and appropriate. You might be able to afford a one bedroom apartment but as a family that's just not suitable," she said.

While the problem had causes beyond the government's control, the government had failed to respond and treated land as a commodity, with an aggressive marketing approach, rather than helping families into homes.

She wants more community housing, a shared equity scheme for low and moderate income earners, more boarding houses and hostels. She wants rules forcing developers to sell affordable housing. She wants an affordable housing taskforce, a "centre for housing excellence" to focus on innovative design for small homes and blocks, and new financing options for people trying to buy homes. She wants the government to refocus its land rent scheme and a scheme to help low income earners build energy-efficient homes by allowing them to pay off the extra cost over time. She wants the lease variation tax waived for projects aimed at low income earners, and land tax removed for landlords who rent to low income earners.

Ms Watson grew up in western Sydney, one of four children in a single-parent family where money was tight. She volunteered with refugees, homeless teenagers and the local youth refuge, and came to Canberra in the early 1980s to study. Ms Watson was head of ACT Shelter from 2011 to 2014 and before then director of Manning Clark House. She lives in Macgregor and has a son, 18, and a daughter, 16.

Ms Watson acknowledged the hurdles independents face, needing 17 per cent of the vote to get elected. But she said if she didn't make it into parliament, her contribution would be getting housing on the campaign agenda. If she did make it, she would be prepared to support Labor or Liberal to form government depending on their commitment to her issues.