Townsville locals have resorted to couch surfing and caravans in a bid to keep a roof over their heads, as rental vacancies in the city have reached an all-time low.

Key points: According to the Real Estate Institute, rental vacancies across Townsville are now almost non-existent

According to the Real Estate Institute, rental vacancies across Townsville are now almost non-existent The Salvation Army said it was still hearing from families in need of accommodation

The Salvation Army said it was still hearing from families in need of accommodation More than 1,800 people have sought housing assistance from the Government

Trevor Abela now lives in a caravan set up outside his flood-damaged home in Bluewater.

"I think I spent six days cleaning the house out, hoping it would come up alright, which it has to a degree. But the tiles need to be lifted and so forth, so they are going to gut the house," Mr Abela said.

Unique accommodation options like this are becoming the norm in Townsville with a rental crisis taking hold.

Mr Abela said living in the caravan had allowed him to watch as his house takes shape while keeping his beloved blue heeler, Gypsy, by his side.

"I didn't want to have my dog in a kennel for x amount of months. It could be up to four months ... it's clean out here now and I could keep me dog without putting her in a kennel," Mr Abela said.

Sorry, this video has expired Drone footage showing flooding in the suburb of Idalia

The Bluewater resident is one of almost 1,000 people still displaced following the flooding disaster that ravaged the Townsville community two months ago.

According to the Real Estate Institute, rental vacancies across Townsville are now almost non-existent.

"One property that we had had 37 people turn up for the viewing. The next day we had probably 28 people showing up for the viewing. Now that doesn't happen. A normal viewing there might be three or four, sometimes there is one or two — six would be a big viewing," zone chairman Wayne Nicholson said.

Mr Abela will live in the caravan until his flood-damaged home is repaired. ( ABC News: Sally Rafferty )

Twelve months ago the rental vacancy rate was between 4 and 5 per cent.

Mr Nicholson said greater investment from the Government was needed to generate growth in Townsville.

"We think it would be good for the Government to say, 'Mr Investor, what if we give you $10,000 to put towards your legal fees or stamp duties to buy an investment property in Townsville so that we can rent it out?'"

The Housing Department said more than 1,800 people affected by the flooding had sought housing assistance, and no-one who had lodged a request was without accommodation.

Flooding at Trevor Abela's home in Bluewater, north of Townsville. ( Supplied: Trevor Abela )

"Our priority is, and will continue to be, ensuring all residents have safe, secure and sustainable accommodation," a department spokesperson said.

'People still have resilience'

The Salvation Army said it was still hearing from families in need of accommodation.

"I think there is an element who is still transient in that sense, whether they are relying on family and friends or they are in temporary accommodation, still waiting on what next," recovery services manager Brad Whittle said.

"There can be a tension between what's available, what's affordable for people, and what they need in terms of space as well.

"So families who may need three- or four-bedroom options have to downsize in the short term just to be able to get a roof over their head."

The Salvation Army says its community hubs have helped 3,500 families. ( AAP Image: Dan Peled )

The organisation has stepped back from the one-stop shop community hubs in operation across the city immediately after the disaster to provide people with information about financial assistance and support services.

Mr Whittle said the hubs had helped about 3,500 families get access to more than $1.5 million in financial assistance payments.

But two months on, the need for that immediate support had dropped.

Mr Whittle said while plenty of people were still doing it tough, community spirit remained high.

"I would say on the most part people are pretty optimistic. People still have a resilience about them and certainly relief there once they are aware of what supports are out there or have actually managed the day-to-day needs, the week-to-week needs, until something more concrete happens in the future," he said.