Several homeless people in Queensland will be facing tougher times once winter season starts.Several homeless people in Queensland will be facing tougher times once winter season starts.

According to the Salvation Army, at least 50 per cent of people are homeless or are sleeping outside Queensland streets.

Patrick Walsh, the group's spokesperson, said the number has increased to 1,500 in two years.

The organization's annual Red Shield Appeal will close tomorrow and Mr. Walsh reported they almost reached the target of $1.2 million for the region alone.

He said several necessities are needed like blankets to brave the winter months.

“Its a hard time for a lot of people especially those that are truly homeless,” he said.

There's a big push on at the moment to try and make a difference in the homeless situation not only in Brisbane but definitely on the Gold Coast.

I think it's important that through this period of time if people can drop blankets off and canned food to any of our Salvos stores or our local churches or our community service centres.

He also said the global economic downturn has affected many Gold Coast residents and a number of people seeking help in the city are vastly increasing at 20 per cent.

There's certainly a lot of areas that are suffering, the rent going up, people have to move out, Mr. Walsh said.

That puts them in a crisis of having to find somewhere to live that they can afford and when they do find somewhere to live then they're paying everything on their rent so there's not much left over for food and utilities.

Winter