Almost 400 people identified as homeless in the Orana and Far West on Census night in 2011, including 178 men, women and children in Dubbo without a permanent place to call home.

In Dubbo to meet with staff on Monday, Ms Yeomans said Mission Australia expected those numbers to rise in 2017.

She said staff highlighted “a critical shortage of enough safe, secure and affordable accommodation”, lack of support for those with mental illness and the need to improve education opportunities because “formal education doesn’t suit every young person”.

“What we need is government investment in the support we know that works: to help people move away from homelessness, to help them before they become homeless,” Ms Yeomans said.

“That’s the best way to make sure there’s enough early intervention and prevention in place.”

Mission Australia has set a target to halve homelessness by 2025, and Ms Yeomans urged state and federal governments to help to spend more on prevention, social housing and other proven services.

“We think a target of halving homelessness by then is a pretty good target to aspire to,” she said.

“Governments really need to make a commitment and a long term commitment to addressing issues that many individuals in our society are facing.”

Ms Yeomans said changes to youth allowance, including reducing the amount available and enforcing a four-week waiting period, could push people below the poverty line.

“Unfortunately there are many measures … targeting the lowest-income people in our society,” she said.

“We think that is not where the focus of government should be. We think that people should be supported more with an adequate income so that they can afford rent, they can explore employment opportunities, and that they can engage with society.”