The Australian Council of Social Service will issue today its survey of the community and welfare organisations providing ''crucial support to keep struggling Australians afloat during the financial crisis''.

The ACT sector recorded a 12 per cent increase in demand for help, with organisations providing services on 57,334 occasions in 2008-09 compared with 51,327 in 2007-08.

Single parents and indigenous people were more likely to use community and welfare services.

Agencies offering domestic violence and sexual assault support reported the largest rise - up 122 per cent - in demand for their services ahead of family services, youth services and legal services and advocacy.

ACT agencies turned away people eligible for their services on 3382 occasions in 2008-09, equivalent to one in 10 people.

Of those turned away, more than half were seeking help on child welfare, child services and day care.

Significant increases in turn-away rates were also recorded in disability services and financial support services.

More than half of ACT community organisations reported they were unable to meet demand for services a situation that would force more rationing.

ACT Council of Social Service director Roslyn Dundas stressed funding and red tape were problems. ''These figures show that demand for community sector support is high, but we are being hampered in our mission to work with Canberra's most vulnerable by inadequate funding and onerous contract requirements,'' she said.

For details on this story, including extracts from the report, see the print edition of today's Canberra Times.