Community groups have raised concerns about a perceived lack of attention to housing affordability during the ACT election campaign.
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Close to 20,000 Canberra households are facing housing stress and spending more than 30 per cent of their income on housing costs, with single parents the hardest hit.
ACT Council of Social Services director Susan Helyar said most politicians were not treating affordable housing as a core component of their vision for Canberra.
"We are trying to diversify the economy with start-ups and tourism but all of those people need low-cost housing as they are not making money immediately," she said.
"We know of a young couple, a nursing student and an IT student, who have packed up and moved to Perth with their family because they cannot afford to live here," Ms Helyar said.
"These are the two professions that we need in Canberra, health and IT workers."
The Liberals and Labor have released detailed public housing policies including the broadening of a scheme designed to help existing public housing tenants buy a home.
But Ms Helyar said investment in public housing was not enough to improve housing affordability with home ownership
"We need to invest in affordable housing so people on low incomes can spend less than 30 per cent of their income on accommodation," she said.
"On any given night, emergency accommodation in Canberra will be full and that is why we are seeing a lot of sleeping rough or in bad circumstances."
On Friday, the ACT Greens committed $100,000 a year for the Early Morning centre to connect homeless people with medical, legal and support services.
Another $50,000 would be given as a one-off investment for the development of a business model and fundraising plan.
"In a peaceful, wealthy city like Canberra the number of people we are experiencing, or are at risk of homelessness, is unacceptable," Yerrabi candidate Veronica Wensing said.
The Greens have also pledged $1 million to establish a housing cooperative scheme for older women and $600,000 for in-home support.
Last month, the party announced it would make all new homes in Canberra meet a new design standard, which would ensure buildings are accessible for ageing residents and those with a disability.
Former head of ACT Shelter, Leigh Watson, who is contesting the Belconnen electorate of Ginninderra, has cited a lack of affordable housing as a major failing of the government.
"It is imperative that we look at developing options for people on the bottom 40 per cent of incomes," she said
Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the territory had escaped "ludicrous" house price increases seen in Sydney and Melbourne and remained one of the most affordable jurisdictions to buy or rent.
"ACT homeowners pay less than 20 per cent of their income on mortgage repayments – well below the national average of 30 per cent," he said.
"In fact, Canberrans pay a smaller portion of their income on mortgages than any other jurisdiction in Australia."
But the Master Builders Association has warned the price of house and land packages in Franklin has nearly doubled in five years, from $370,000 to $620,000.
ACTCOSS and ACT Shelter call on every government department to direct 1 per cent of its budget to affordable housing or providing homelessness services.
On Saturday, Labor committed to a number of $20,000 grants to encourage Canberrans to adopt small and under-used green spaces in Braddon, Acton and Civic.
The grants would be used to establish "a network of micro parks" across the city modelled on small gardens and green spaces surrounding the New Acton precinct.
Labor also committed to plant 1330 trees over three years; increase the frequency of mowing, more bins, a rubbish truck and a graffiti coordinator.
