The newspaper usually has listings of available rental accommodation. There are also letting agencies who specialise in rental accommodation. Some agencies charge the equivalent of one weeks rent as a fee for finding you accommodation. However, if properties are available any person will be considered. If you are already in a HNZ rental property, but you wish to shift to another location or size of home, you can apply for a transfer to another HNZ property.
Most local authorities give priority to older people who have limited income and assets.
However with the introduction of the accommodation supplement, eligibility criteria are changing in some areas and, as with HNZ, if accommodation is available other people may be considered. You do not have to be a member of the particular religious denomination to be eligible for most Religious Social Service housing. There may be other eligibility criteria however, such as income, need for housing, level of disability etc. Some other welfare organisations may require you, or a member of your family, to have some association with the organisation to be eligible for their housing. However it is worth checking because each organisation is different.