The Salvation Army released a report into homelessness this week, predicting an estimated 30 to 35 per cent of future retirees would rent their retirement home and likely need assistance.
Ms Bruin said the report highlighted the fact many people now needed to work beyond their retirement age, often to pay off debt.
Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty Grey Power president Christina Humphreys said the organisation was inundated with pensioners struggling to find affordable accommodation.
"It's very much a worry," she said.
"A lot of rentals, the owners have sold them because they feel they don't get enough rent. There are so many people wanting to buy a house so there are fewer to rent. And there are a lot [of pensioners] who haven't paid their mortgage off so they end up renting. That's not good.
"It's either that or in a caravan at some caravan park. It's awful."
The Salvation Arm report states that up to 33,000 extra rental properties will be needed in the North Island to meet the swelling demand from retiring Baby Boomers in the next few years.
Report author Alan Johnson recommended the Government undertake action, including an urgent review into the current Accommodation Supplement, and developing an intervention programme to limit the risk of those in late middle age and early old age becoming homeless due to financial hardship, relationship breakdown and health problems.
The Ministry of Social Development was unable to say how many people in this situation lived in the Bay of Plenty or Tauranga before the paper went to print last night.
The Commission for Financial Capability, formerly the Retirement Commission, was also unable to comment before publication.
As of September, 683,899 people were receiving a pension in New Zealand.
