News Releases

News Release - Manitoba

June 26, 2020

Manitoba Expands Support for Homeless Shelters in Response to Pandemic



The Manitoba government is investing nearly $760,000 to expand supports to vulnerable people experiencing homelessness as part of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Families Minister Heather Stefanson announced today.
 
“As we continue to respond to COVID-19 together, we must ensure there are services in place to support those who are most vulnerable including people experiencing homelessness,” said Stefanson. “These investments will help ensure trusted community-based organizations can extend or expand their supports, so everyone has a safe place when they need it.”
 
This builds on a $1.2-million investment for homeless shelters announced in April and will support:
expanded capacity at a Main Street Project (MSP) location on Disraeli Street in Winnipeg for the next three months, providing space for 180 beds every night ($135,000);
continued operation of a site on Sargent Avenue in Winnipeg, which has 39 beds for individuals who may need to self-isolate due to COVID-19, to be managed by MSP until the end of September ($242,000); and
ongoing operations of the Salvation Army’s Winnipeg Centre of Hope, as a need to decrease its capacity to meet physical distancing requirements has resulted in financial challenges ($360,000).
 
“We are very grateful to live in a province that has taken a well-planned approach to limiting the spread of the virus,” said Maj. Gordon Taylor, executive director, Salvation Army Winnipeg Centre of Hope. “There has been a tremendous sense of co-operation among various agencies and levels of government that has made it possible to meet unique needs and numerous challenges. We are especially grateful today for this financial assistance from the province, which will enable us to continue to meet those needs and plans for whatever challenges arise going forward.”
 
The Centre of Hope is at Henry Avenue and Martha Street, and includes a residential mental health program, transitional housing for individuals who have been released from a correctional facility, emergency shelter beds and a number of on-site programs to support people toward independence and stability.
 
The minister also noted this funding includes one month of operational costs ($22,000) previously announced to support Samaritan House Ministries’ Safe and Warm Shelter in Brandon.  The 10-bed emergency shelter typically is open only in the winter months, but ongoing provincial support has helped it continue to serve vulnerable clients throughout the summer.  
 
This investment is part of the Manitoba Protection Plan, a government-wide response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
For more information on COVID-19, including supports and programs in place for Manitobans, visit www.manitoba.ca/covid19.
 
A comprehensive list of Manitoba government COVID-19 measures can be found at:
https://manitoba.ca/bg/2020/04/covid19.html.
 
 
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