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Federal Funding for Homelessness and Encampments

Dec 23, 2024

Photo Credit to Tyson Koschik/CBC

UPDATE, December 2024:
Thank you CBC for covering this important issue: by reporter Ian Froese, December 23, 2024

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew says his government will start moving people out of homeless encampments and into housing in the new year, while sticking to its timeline for a balanced budget — despite a projected deficit for this year that’s grown by half a billion dollars. Kinew said in a year-end interview that 2025 will be when “you, as the average Manitoban, start to see big steps on homelessness.”  Within the first few months of the year, the province will move people living in tents into new housing units the government is opening up, he said. “I think what we’re going to do is move camp-by-camp,” he said. “It’s actually going to start at that level … of, like, a few dozen people at a time. Let’s move them into housing, let’s make sure that the camp gets cleaned up, and then let’s make sure that it doesn’t get set up again, because people have been successful in their new housing.'”

Kinew wouldn’t offer details around the number of people who will be supported or the number of units opening up, but he said the new homes would be available for people at all stages of the housing process. He likened these stages to a ladder, where the bottom rung is basic shelter, followed by social housing, Manitoba Housing and then the private rental market. “It’s taken time for us to get those units together, to get the relationships with the private sector so that when somebody’s been in Manitoba Housing for five years, we could transfer them over into an apartment,” he said.”But now that we have that ladder in place, 2025 is the year where we go out and start moving people into more dignified living conditions.”

The NDP promised in the 2023 election campaign to end chronic homelessness within eight years of taking office. It’s now aiming to connect individuals who’ve been without shelter for six weeks or longer with housing and mental health supports. During its first year in office, the NDP said it housed 1,100 people who were living in encampments, shelters and transitional housing — though the issue of homelessness is rampant along streets, riverbanks and bus shelters, particularly in Winnipeg. Kinew said the government would devote more money into addressing homelessness in next year’s budget, but he didn’t specify how much. The premier said there’s been recent progress toward clearing the encampment outside the Granite Curling Club in Winnipeg, along the Assiniboine River and only a few hundred metres from the legislature. “What determines whether or not people end up back there is: Do they have the support so that they can remain successful in housing?” he said. Kinew wants to have social workers, mental health staff and addictions workers in place.

September 22, 2024

I want to share some positive news related to funding support to address homelessness and encampments.  There is much coverage in the media about the challenges and difficulties solving homelessness and encampments. I am aware many residents of the Waverley West ward have encountered homeless people in various parts of the ward, and I have been working with area residents near an encampment . I am aware of one encampment in the ward, and have been working closely with area residents to address the resulting challenges.

Sept 2024:

October 2024:   

  • the Federal Government announced another $50 million fund to help communities develop innovative projects to prevent homelessness and accelerate new homes for people currently experiencing homelessness. SEE:  Supporting communities to end homelessness

Province of Manitoba

  • Provincial governments must apply to the Federal government to access this funding.  Some Provinces chose not to apply so the Federal government is working with cities (ie: Ontario & Saskatchewan)
  • I’ve been made aware the Province of Manitoba has applied for the funding. It is my understanding that the Province of Manitoba is reviewing all their housing stock and buildings to assess what can be upgraded / converted to short term housing.  Depending on the amount of funding the Province receives, there could be an option of securing hotel space.

It is the Province’s responsibility to provide housing – the Province provides social housing, has a housing department, and is working on many housing initiatives.

I will note recently, the City of Winnipeg was provided Federal funding to build long term housing through the Housing Accelerator Fund Capital Grant Incentive. The first round of funding was allocated over a month ago. This funding is being used to construct apartment buildings, which will take a couple years to deliver on. I also want to note, many of the unsheltered residents require social service support / mental health support which the Province provides – as the City doesn’t have a health department.

We are facing huge challenges as a City and Province, but the good news is, all levels of government are working together. This recent funding provided by the Federal government will accelerate solutions.