Thousands of South Australians are languishing on the public housing waitlist while hundreds of homes remain empty across the state.

The damning data, revealed exclusively to 9News, exposes just how many residents are holding out hope of one day having their own roof to sleep under.

The figures show that almost 1500 public housing dwellings are currently vacant across the state, while 16,000 people remain on the waitlist.

The situation is particularly acute for those classified as category one – the highest-priority applicants in urgent need of accommodation.

Thomas Ray, a South Australian working two jobs, has been living in a friend's garage for years while waiting for a property.

"I'm just waiting for that day you get a phone call saying 'congratulations, you've got a house'," he s

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