Bruce Buchanan, St Vincent de Paul  Society executive officer for the Bathurst Central Council region, said the rising costs of renting was forcing people out of the housing market.

He said requests for help included seeking money for food, to pay electricity bills and school expenses.

Mr Buchanan said the drought was also leading to farm managers facing losing somewhere to live as their incomes relied on producing crops which was proving tough in the big dry.

He said 75 per cent of low income earners faced rental stress.

With the state and federal government elections just around the corner he said Vinnies had been calling for funding and policy changes to ease the housing crisis.

Mr Buchanan said 23 housing units had just been opened in Dubbo for people in need over 55, but more was needed in the Central West.

Vinnies has called on the state government to mandate 15 per cent of residential developments on private land and 30 per cent on public land be for affordable housing.

It also said the waiting times for social housing across NSW exceeded 10 years with 60,000 people waiting for social housing.

Vinnies also called for the end to landlords being able to evict renters on "no grounds."

Orange's Benjamin Short Grove facility for aged homeless people is in strong demand according to Mission Australia’s Director of Care at BSG, Kim Dillon.

"At Benjamin Short Grove we have space for 60 residents and we are constantly at full capacity," she said.

"It’s the only service of its kind in the Central West, so it is absolutely in demand. We’re finding that many older people are coming to Orange to move closer to the hospital so they can access healthcare for a range of chronic health conditions.

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"We know that there aren’t enough aged care facilities like Benjamin Short Grove. The intensive level of care that we provide at our specialised aged care facilities is vital for the people who live there who regularly face high levels of frailty and who have high needs."

“If the Commonwealth government funded the construction of one new homeless aged care service every year in each state and territory, according to need, that would help to address the current shortfall and provide homes for many more vulnerable people to age with dignity."

Ms Dillon said strategies should be put in place now to boost economic security for women in later life.

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