Everybody’s Home campaign spokesperson Kate Colvin says when Australians once again have to start repaying their mortgage, many families simply won’t be able to do so.

Tens of thousands of home owners are being urged to start repaying their loans as the March 31 deadline on automatic mortgage holidays approaches.

The economic impact of COVID-19 saw banks offer home owners loan deferrals last year.

About 10 per cent of borrowers accepted and paused their payments.

However, as the program comes to an end, calls have arisen for more social housing to prevent a surge in homelessness.

Ms Colvin said the situation is “very tough for families who have not been able to get back into work”.

“We know that we’ve still got very high unemployment, the economy’s bouncing back very slowly,” she told Sky News.

“When they have to start repaying their mortgage again, many families will just not be able to do that”.

“They might then have to sell their property into a market where it’s worth less than it was when they bought it”.

“And that will put them in hardship,” Ms Colvin said.

“The mortgage holiday is ending and of course, over the course of this year with unemployment still high and JobSeeker repayments reducing, we do expect a surge in homelessness”.

“So having housing that’s there as an alternative, it just helps families move on,” Ms Colvin said.