UPDATED 2:29pm: The Salvation Army is worried housing pressures are now spreading beyond Auckland and Christchurch.

It says there are signs of rising deprivation and overcrowding in the provinces too.

Spokeswoman Major Pam Waugh has pointed out the demand for social services the organisation provides is rising again, much of it because of provincial economies being flat.

She says rent rises and jobs losses are putting pressure on families.

"The stress increases the risk of things such as family violence, so we've seen quite a few more families coping with that.

"That just adds to the pressure of coping on limited income, they've got limited access to welfare needs, transport, all those sorts of things."

The Salvation Army alerts that, for those earning the least, it only takes an unexpected cost or two or a redundancy to lose their accommodation, credit rating, good tenancy record, and effectively become homeless.

"We're noticing more and more families coming through that are living in cars or still in garages, or two or three families in a house. When your rent is so high, it doesn't leave a lot of room for food or other welfare needs for a family."

She says the problem is seen everywhere from Hamilton to Greymouth.