More than 1500 Australians have given testimony as part of a report from Everybody's Home into the impacts of the crisis, including poor living standards and domestic violence.
Two women said they were left homeless after fleeing an abusive relationship with their children.
Another woman said her house was "crumbling" around her and that she had respiratory issues from the dust and mould.
A representative from the Murra Mia Aboriginal Corporation said members of his community lived in poverty in dilapidated and overcrowded dwellings.
More than 50 per cent of participants who rent have forgone medical appointments, and more than 40 per cent have skipped meals.
To solve the crisis, the report recommends the government create 750,000 social homes within two decades, abolish investor tax concessions and deliver housing justice for Indigenous peoples.
The report's commissioner and former Labor senator Doug Cameron urged Housing Minister Clare O'Neil and the Albanese government to take the findings seriously.
"I applaud the fact that the new housing minister expresses enthusiasm to tackle the housing crisis," he said in a statement.
"However, it's troubling that failed 'market solutions' continue to take precedence over increased funding for social housing."
Other recommendations include investing in crisis housing services and raising the rate of working age payments and formally recognising housing as a human right.
The report showed that Australians expected the government to step up on housing, Everybody's Home spokeswoman Maiy Azize said.
"Too many Australians are living in tents, caravans, on couches or the streets because there simply aren't enough safe, decent, affordable homes for them," Ms Azize said.
"Our leaders can't waste another moment to rapidly build more social housing, phase out investor tax breaks and coordinate strong national rental reform."
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