After 11 years on a housing wait list, Lynette is getting desperate

Lynette Poole's doctor has urged NSW Homes to put her on a priority list. (Supplied: Lynette Poole)

Lynette Poole, 71, has been a social housing waitlist for 11 years despite her doctor urging her to be placed on a priority list.

Social housing as a proportion of total housing stock has been in "steady decline" nationally.

State and federal governments are embarking on building programs, but advocates say it is not enough to meet recommended targets.

Aged 71, Lynette Poole is very grateful to be living with her granddaughter.

It means the disability pensioner has a roof over her head for now, but she worries the arrangement is stopping the 28-year-old from getting on with her life.

"My granddaughter wants to go and have a baby with her partner, and live together and stuff like that," she said.

Ms Poole is one of 69,000 people in NSW and 185,000 nationally who are on a waiting list for social housing. She has been waiting for 11 years.

It has been nearly 18 months since her doctor wrote a letter urging that she be placed on a priority list due to her complex medical needs, including a chronic heart condition and diabetes.

At the same time, she updated her application with her granddaughter's notice that she needed to move out and could no longer co-rent.

A delay in the request being processed meant they have been forced to renew their lease, but will not have the option to do so again.

Mission Australia manages applications for social housing in Coffs Harbour. (ABC Coffs Coast: Claire Simmonds)

Ms Poole said no one from Mission Australia, which case manages her application, had contacted her about her change in circumstance and that when she called, she was told they would be able to do something when her lease ran out "because I would be homeless then".

When contemplating the prospect of becoming homeless in her 70s, she became distressed.

"I'm getting sad, which is really difficult. Homelessness would be absolutely horrible.

"I think when you speak to someone and they're not actually seeing your exact circumstances, of course it's hard for them to exactly realise."

In a statement, a spokesperson acknowledged there was "a growing need for more social and affordable housing" with wait times of up to 10 years.

“Mission Australia is committed to working with the NSW government, developers and other non-profits to expand the number of social and affordable homes and meet the need in the community," the statement said.

Ms Poole, who has been waiting 11 years, said after the ABC followed up on her case, she received a call from Mission Austra