"We need to look very carefully at whether we need tax cuts and rates cuts, while all the time there are people living in doorways."
Newstalk ZB's findings come as a new Salvation Army report finds the housing shortage is worse than it was a year ago.
New housing consents in Auckland have reached a 12-year- high, and the Government is spending an extra $300 million on emergency housing.
But social policy director Ian Hutson said the gap between supply and demand is still growing.
"Across the country the housing shortage got worse and housing became more unaffordable for people.
"This can't continue. Housing policy needs to provide a sufficient supply of affordable houses."
Ms Hulse is also pleading with the city's homeless young people to ask for help before winter sets in.
She said the city faces a critical housing shortage, but there are agencies who can help and people shouldn't lose hope.
"We cannot be having our young people living out in the open without a safe roof over their heads."
Ms Hulse says most people who approach Lifewise and Salvation Army for help find somewhere to stay.
Colonel Hutson said entrenched child and youth poverty has become the new norm.
"Politicians must stop just voicing sympathetic rhetoric and actually take real action to reduce child poverty numbers."