There's concern up to 200,000 families around the country could be forced out of cities in search of cheaper homes.

A new report from the Centre for Research, Evaluation and Social Assessment shows for much of the population the housing crisis has been building for more than a decade.

Community House Aotearoa chief executive Scott Figenshow told Mike Hosking it's been a long time coming and things need to change.

"They are massive numbers, and the problems we've got today started decades ago. It's time to have the level of investment again that we used to have."

LISTEN TO SCOTT FIGENSHOW TALK WITH MIKE HOSKING ABOVE