Women's Refuge says a lack of affordable social housing is locking women and their children into environments of family violence.
Chief executive Heather Henare says women and children are staying longer in safe houses than they should.
Ms Henare says women desperately need affordable and adequate housing, because the prospect of a safe place to live encourages them to break free of their abuser and stay away.
Changes to Housing New Zealand policy means women find it much more difficult to find social housing, and private housing is beyond their finances, she says.