Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew (THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski)
WINNIPEG — The Manitoba government has introduced “Your Way Home,” a comprehensive plan aimed at ending chronic homelessness across the province.
Premier Wab Kinew and Housing, Addictions, and Homelessness Minister Bernadette Smith announced the initiative on Tuesday, which includes appointing Tessa Blaikie Whitecloud as the senior advisor to oversee its implementation.
Whitecloud, who is CEO of Siloam Mission, will lead a coordinated provincial effort that aligns the work of non-profit organizations, Indigenous nations, and municipalities under a “One Manitoba” approach.
“No one should be chronically homeless in a country as rich as Canada,” said Kinew. “Encampments aren’t safe for the people living there and they’re not safe for the families, seniors and businesses nearby. Our plan will move people out of tents and into warm, safe, secure housing with wraparound supports to help make sure they stay housed.”
Working with the City of Winnipeg on a 30-day timeline beginning in February, the new strategy will see the government move one encampment at a time into housing including 300 new social units that have been purchased and will be supported by non-profit organizations, added Kinew.
Wraparound support and funding will also be provided including flexible funding for people who are experiencing incidental homelessness to help ensure a successful transition into housing.
The province says encampments will only be moved once move-in ready housing is secured for every person. The former encampment sites will be decommissioned and cleared by clean-up teams. The sites will be monitored by foot patrols to ensure the space remains cleared and can be used safely by all Manitobans.
Further details on the plan can be found on the province’s website.
Watch Tuesday’s announcement:
