The Associate Minister for Housing says it's better to invest in keeping people in homes, than see them on the streets.

$54 million has been pledged for initiatives to support at-risk individuals and whanau to stay in existing tenancies.

It'll help people with complex needs who may have mental health, addiction or budgeting problems.

Kris Faafoi told Mike Hosking losing tenancies means going into a cycle of homelessness.

"Spending a bit of money to keep people in houses is much better for them and costs us less than if they were to become homeless."

The plan has the support of the PSA. National secretary Glenn Barclay says their Ministry of Social Development members have been saying they need extra resource for a long time.

He says they'll be pleased to see the roles being created that'll give them greater scope to do their job.