Salvation Army volunteers will knock on doors this weekend from Narooma to Batemans Bay, but many knocks will be left unanswered - a sign there is a lack of available homes, the charity says.
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Batemans Bay Lieutenant Ben Knight said it was tough for homeless people to see so many empty holiday homes in the Eurobodalla Shire, where homelessness was rife.
"One of the hard things is, especially in the Bay, the amount of holiday homes that are empty six months of the year," Lt Knight said. "It's really tough on people.
"We knock on the door and there's no one there because it's a holiday home."
In April, Anglicare's Rental Affordability Snapshot revealed affordable and available accommodation was decreasing in the Eurobodalla.
This weekend, May 25-26, the Salvation Army will attempt to raise funds for their services as part of the annual Red Shield Appeal.
Australia-wide, funds raised would go towards accommodation hostels, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, disaster relief, emergency relief, case work and financial advisers.
But Lt Knight said emergency hostels could not be offered in the shire.
"The hostels - no. We don't have the finance locally to be able to offer that," he said.
"But we offer things like emergency relief, case management and financial advising. We offer that here and at our store in Moruya as well.
They know someone who's been helped by the Salvation Army or they themselves have been helped by the Salvation Army, in times of crisis.
- Ben Knight
"(Homelessness) is a real big issue here because there aren't many services in the shire. Affordable housing is almost non-existent.
"People don't really see it, unless you go out at night.
"We have people come (to the Salvation Army), almost on a daily basis, homeless - looking for a blanket, emergency-relief food and looking for help as far as case management goes."
Lt Knight said people's generosity in the shire always "blew me away".
"I've been (door-knocking) since I was 14, and I could count on one hand the people who have been negative towards us," he said.
"They know someone who's been helped by the Salvation Army, or they themselves have been helped in times of crisis."
Lt Knight said there were 2000 people whom the Salvation Army accommodated every night, Australia-wide.
"There are 36,000 people a year who are helped by our case workers," he said.
"There are 100,000 people a year who are helped by emergency relief, things like groceries, to get them by until their next pay day.
"14,000 people a year take advantage of money care/financial advisory that we offer."
Lt Knight said he basically grew up in the Salvation Army.
"My parents were Salvation Army officers as well ... once I hit 14, it was 'right, now it's your turn to go out'," he said.
"I love it. Not only does it raise funds for the community but you also get to meet your community at the same time."
Lt Knight said there were static points where the public could donate, outside Kmart and Woolworths, "and a few other places around the Bay and Moruya".
"All the funds raised go directly to the community," he said.
"Last year we raised $21,000. We're hoping to better that or come close."
To volunteer for the charity, go to their website or Facebook page.
