Men and women experiencing homelessness in Canberra are having to choose between freezing together in their cars or taking their chances apart in shelters.

Support services have been overwhelmed over the winter with homeless people desperate for help.

But support workers have been at a loss on how to assist couples who want to find shelter together during the cold months.

Sub-zero temperatures see vehicles become freezers in the harsh winter. ( ABC Canberra: Michael Black )

Huddling together for warmth

Canberra's average minimum temperature last month was nearly -2 degrees Celsius, with one night plummeting to -7.4C.

Reclink ACT project manager Mark Ransome said he recently encountered a homeless couple living together in their car.

"It was -3C inside their car so they were probably better off sleeping outside the vehicle than freezing inside," he said.

"They did the rounds trying to find a place they could stay together and it just doesn't exist.

"They just need each other to stay safe and to split them up doesn't work well for anybody."

Mr Ransome said it was generally easier for men to find temporary accommodation.

An Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report found males over the age of 35 made up the majority of rough sleepers.

But there was a higher percentage of women on the street in the under-35 demographic.

Women were also five times more likely than men to access homeless services due to experiencing domestic violence.

"At the moment, as I understand it, there are precious-few places available for women who are living rough on the street," Mr Ransome said.

"Part of the reason may be they feel it's not safe for women to be staying in a mixed shelter.

"I can see that, but we desperately need something here in Canberra to look after the needs of women."

Condemned public housing flats in Canberra have been covered in graffiti. ( ABC Canberra: Michael Black )

Sleeping on the doorstep of the capital

Hundreds of public housing tenants moved to new or existing properties after their homes were slated for demolition. ( ABC News: Ian Cutmore )

Reclink ACT has been assisting disadvantaged people in Canberra for nearly 10 years.

Mr Ransome said he had witnessed the homeless situation in the capital worsen over the past decade.

But in recent months it deteriorated significantly after the closure of the Allawah, Bega and Currong public housing estates.

"If you were a resident you were given a placement and the ACT Government has done a good job with that," he said.

"But a lot of those people living there weren't actually residents. Many were squatting and still are."

The 2016 census estimated more than 116,000 people were experiencing homelessness in Australia.

In Canberra, it was estimated that four out of every 1,000 people were homeless.

Mr Ransome said he wanted to increase awareness about the problem, as well as empathy.

Many of his clients presented with substance abuse and mental health problems.

"For a lot of people just to communicate the message 'I need somewhere to live' is not an easy thing to do," he said.

"Let's identify what's causing the problem and then look at solutions. I'm not saying it's an easy task.