The Auckland City Mission says it's looking at offering longer term accommodation for the homeless.
People queuing outside Auckland's City Mission in the week before Christmas 2015. Photo: RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson
The social service provider's new chief executive, Chris Farrelly, begins his role today replacing the long-serving Dame Diane Robertson.
Mr Farrelly says the housing crisis demands a response from a variety of individuals and groups, including churches, marae and NGOs.
There are more than 2000 people on the waiting list for urgent state housing in Auckland.
Mr Farrelly said the City Mission currently referred people to emergency housing, but is was considering becoming a provider.
"The Mission's role is to respond to the desperate in an immediate way - if there is no housing, there are people sleeping on the streets because there is nowhere else to go at all.
Mr Farrelly said the Mission was looking at what it should do to meet those needs.