MORE than 17,000 children aged under 12 are among the 105,237 people currently homeless in Australia as the national homeless rate rises.

Nationally the number of homeless rose 17 per cent from 89,728 in 2006 to 105,237 in 2011 after dropping 5.9 per cent between 2001 and 2006.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the increase in homelessness "resulted from the rise in the number of people living in severely crowded dwellings, up from 31,531 in 2006 to 41,390 in 2011''.

Australian Greens housing spokesperson, Senator Scott Ludlam, said the figures reinforced the fact Australia has been in the grip of a housing crisis for years.

"We need to see a commitment to at least doubling funding for homelessness services and accommodation in the new National Affordable Housing Agreement which is being negotiated this year,'' he said.

"The 2008 White paper on homelessness aimed to halve homelessness by 2020, but four years on there are 250,000 people on the waiting list for social housing.''

Senator Ludlam was concerned by the number of homeless children identified in the new data released today. Figures show 17,845 of all homeless were under the age of 12, rising from 15,715 in 2006.

"Many of the thousands of Australians sleeping rough are younger than 18. They need a roof over their heads and they need hope for the future.''