The Salvation Army's Major Glenn Anderson, who has raised the issue of homelessness in the city several times, said the new places would be well recieved - if the Government follows through on them.
Over the past 12 months, quarterly figures from Housing New Zealand (HNZ) and the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) have painted a sorry picture of supply and demand.
The number of state houses in the district dropped from 604 in December 2015 to 572 this September, and there have never been enough houses available for the people who needed them.
The worst deficit was in September this year when no houses were available and 33 households needed them. Of those, 23 households were deemed to be at risk and in immediate need.
Mr Gallacher said anyone who needed help with housing should get in touch with Housing NZ.
"For those families needing help right now we have a number of tools and we're working with people who are struggling to make sure they're getting the support they need."
Mr Anderson said the National Government had denied there was a housing crisis for two or three "very frustating" years, and Housing NZ staff could only do what they were asked.
But since late 2015 agencies have begun to pour "considerable resource" into housing issues.
"They have been slow off the mark, but they're coming to the party now."
He has worked with Whanganui people unable to get HNZ houses, and said it was difficult to find decent private rentals they could afford.
"Rents are steadily climbing, as is the cost of real estate."
He recently relinquished his role as chairman of the Wanganui Housing Trust which has two houses for emergency accommodation, both of which are usually full.
A new church-based social housing supplier, Grace, has come to Whanganui and has two houses, and he's heard there is another house run by Te Puna Wai Ora.
There's now another option for the homeless, Mr Treloar said - temporary hotel and motel accommodation subsidised by Work and Income. It's been available in Whanganui for at least three months.
Housing NZ had sold off a lot of houses in Whanganui over the past few years, Mr Treloar said, and its waiting list would be longer if people knew it was here.
"Housing New Zealand hasn't had an office with an open-door policy in Whanganui for something like five years. The waiting list would be a lot longer if there was a proper service."
Mr Treloar said the Government should increase the accommodation supplement, which would increase the amount of rent beneficiaries could afford.
As far as he was aware, the supplement has not increased since 1992.