Homeless people banned from Melbourne streets flock to state's 2nd biggest city

Melbourne's efforts to remove homeless people from the city's streets has seen the rough sleepers flock to Geelong.

According to front line services, demand for homeless support has surged in Geelong, Victoria's second biggest city, since the Melbourne's council voted in February to ban sleeping on the street in public places.

Andrew Edgar, coordinator of the Barwon Region Homeless Network, said there were at least 1,000 people experiencing homeless in the Barwon region of Geelong alone.

"I have been hearing some people that have been rough-sleeping in Melbourne are now coming to Geelong," Edgar told News Limited on Monday.

"Local homelessness services are seeing a significant increase in demand."

He said that while the new rules in Melbourne were partly responsible, the closure of manufacturing plants in Geelong was also a factor.

John Hutchinson, support coordinator of the Salvation Army in Geelong, said support services were stretched thin.

"There are no beds available ... everything's full," Hutchinson said.

"Speaking to the entry point - where anyone over 25 presents - they're definitely seeing an increase.

"On Friday April 21 they had 19 walk-ins, with nothing available, so they've had to say 'no' to everyone."

Data from the Department of Housing and Human Services (DHHS) released in January said that Geelong had 567 people living without shelter.

However, the Geelong Regional Alliance (G21) agreed with Edgar that the number had climbed to at least 1,000 in the last four months.

"While the homelessness of others might not be visible to us day-to-day, the need is very real and it is of serious concern that it appears to be multiplying in our region," G21 executive Elaine Carbines said. Endit