Pressure is mounting on the Greens to support Labor's $10 billion housing fund, with the crossbench issuing the blunt message the party was "hurting people" by blocking it.
Housing advocates teamed up with crossbench senators Tammy Tyrrell and David Pocock on Monday to urge the Greens to pass the Housing Australia Future Fund legislation this week, before parliament heads for a month-long winter break.
Negotiations stalled after the Greens said the government was not doing enough to address the housing crisis, and demanded more be done for renters in exchange for their support.
The government announced at the weekend a $2 billion commitment for social housing, which would be shared among the states and territories.
Senator Tyrrell said by continuing to oppose the bill the Greens weren't looking after the people who elected them.
"You're harming people, you're not allowing them to have a house into the future ... they are the ones that are holding all of these people to ransom and I think that's a terrible thing," she told reporters.
"My message is to the Greens, support the Housing Australia Future Fund.
"At the end of the day you're hurting people ... if you're here to hurt people, get out."
Senator Pocock said the cross bench had negotiated improvements to the housing bill, but the debate had now reached the point to make a decision.
The housing fund would aim to invest earnings to build 30,000 social and affordable homes over the next five years.
The Greens brought a motion to the Senate on Monday to postpone the bill until October 16, to allow the prime minister to negotiate rent reforms with the state and territory leaders at a national cabinet meeting.
"We know the pressure that Australians in rental accommodation are feeling is extraordinary," Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young told parliament.
Housing Minister Julie Collins said every six months the bill is delayed, was $250 million that could have gone to building more homes.
"If this bill gets delayed until October, the Greens political party and the Liberals would have succeeded in delaying it for more than six months," she said.
Community Housing Industry Association chief executive Wendy Hayhurst said annual funding of $500 million was now a floor, and no longer a cap.
"We now have the foundation to build on and time is marching on," she said.
"It's time to see the legislation passed."
Ivan Simon, head of the peak housing body for Indigenous people, said he held concerns about the housing fund, but the "important" legislation was backed by his organisation.
Homelessness Australia chief executive Kate Colvin said the situation in Australia was a "catastrophe".
"We need the housing that will be created by the housing legislation to get going," she said.
Property Council of Australia chief executive Mike Zorbas said the housing bill needed to be passed as quickly as possible.
"I urge all senators who haven't yet made up their mind to really seriously think about the opportunity that is presented to them," he said.
© AAP 2023