Report warns new wave of homelessness

State and federal governments are being warned of a new wave of homelessness threatening disadvantaged families.

The St Vincent De Paul Society says there has been at least a doubling in the number of people turning to caravan parks since 2001.

In a report called Residents At Risk, the charity estimates at least 50,000 people across the country are one step away from homelessness and using caravan parks as crisis accommodation.

The report's author, doctor Andy Mark, says state and federal governments need to intervene to "provide more crisis support until more long-term solutions can be found".

Federal Housing Minister Tanya Plibersek says it is going to take some time to fix the problem

"We know that there is a lot of work to do; this is an area that has been shockingly neglected for much too long," she said.

Ms Plibersek says a white paper on homelessness will be released in September.