Whangarei families are being forced to share homes with other families, live in garages and in damp and mouldy houses, causing a raft of health problems in children.
Applications to Habitat for Humanity Northland for its home ownership scheme, the Metra Big Town Build, show a serious housing need in the city, says executive officer Conrad LaPointe.
"The applications reveal people living in overcrowded situations - two families to one house and one family living in a garage," he said.
"[They] are living in very unhealthy homes. A number of people have expressed that they can't live in all the rooms in their houses because of all the excessive condensation and mould."
He said this was causing illness such as bronchial infections, asthma and rheumatic fever, particularly in younger children.