Tropical Cyclone Yasi has made about 410 north Queensland homes in Australia unlivable, the state government revealed its first estimates on Monday.
Housing Minister Karen Struthers on Monday said temporary accommodation and counseling was being provided, while more permanent solutions could be found in the wake of Yasi.
"Family and community ties are strong in north Queensland and many neighbors and friends are providing places to stay for affected families," she said in a statement.
"But we understand that these temporary arrangements can't be maintained long-term and that's why we're working to get people back in their own homes as soon as possible."
Housing outreach teams had been sent to the worst-hit coastal towns of Tully, El Arish and Mission Beach in north Queensland, and would be deployed to the towns of Cardwell and Kennedy when roads reopened, Struthers said.
The housing crisis in the state's north comes on the back of 4, 500 homes inundated in flooding in the state's south-east.
Struthers said the government had received 280 new applications for public housing after the floods.