After the closure of Ozanam Villa last month, accommodation is stretched for people needing a place to stay while their loved ones are at Whanganui Hospital.
Whanganui health professional, Rowena Kui, said around 300 people from the surrounding rural areas used the villa for accommodation each year.
In the Whanganui District Health Board (WDHB) monthly meeting on Friday, chief executive Julie Patterson, said the focus was to find a replacement for Ozanam Villa fast.
"We are looking for an alternative either on site or securing a motel that could be offered to families at a subsided rate," Mrs Patterson said.
Ozanam Villa, located on Koromiko Rd in Whanganui, was forced to shut down after struggling to stay afloat on donations alone.