Members of a Hutt Valley church are staging a sleep-out, on vacant land belonging to Housing New Zealand.

The congregation of St David's church in Naenae are occupying a property on Seddon St, where state homes have been demolished.

Reverend Martin Robinson says scores of houses have been knocked down, despite Wellington's housing shortage.

He says overcrowding and inadequate housing are getting more common in his parish, particularly among Maori and Pacific families.

"What people really want to see is tangible action, they want to see tangible plans and consultation and houses need to be provided."

He says dozens of people have shown their support or shared their own stories.

"People who have phoned in or Skyped or text and emailed - others who have just been walking by will come and sit for a cuppa and tell us their housing stories."