January 15, 2021
Province Investing More than $4 Million in Manitoba Housing Properties to Improve Tenant and Community Safety
The Manitoba government is investing more than $4 million in security upgrades at Manitoba Housing properties, the largest single annual investment in the organization’s history, Families Minister Rochelle Squires announced today.
“The Manitoba government is committed to the long-term sustainability of public housing in our province,” said Squires. “Our government has invested more than $6.9 million in security upgrade projects over the past three years and these ongoing, targeted investments have resulted in safer homes for Manitobans.”
The minister noted that security calls at Manitoba Housing have dropped by 25 per cent over the past five years and said the investment announced today is intended to address the ongoing challenge of petty trespassing to help ensure Manitobans feel safe at their homes.
This investment builds on more than $31 million in social housing improvements announced in July 2020, and complements the Housing Communications Centre, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week to respond to concerns from tenants including security issues. In addition, Manitoba Housing provides security services at selected properties throughout the province, including a 23-member mobile security service.
The province has made several notable investments in affordable housing since 2016, including more than $100 million in new social and affordable rental units, creating 631 new units for Manitobans who need them. Last year, the Manitoba government signed the 10-year National Housing Strategy with the federal government and is contributing over $225 million of a total investment of more than $450 million in social housing through it.
The province also continues to make significant investments in non-Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) Rent Assist for families that need help paying their rent. The minister noted that investments in non-EIA Rent Assist have nearly tripled since 2016, to $36 million in 2019-20 from $13.1 million in 2015-16.
Manitoba Housing owns and manages nearly 13,000 affordable and social housing units in the province and provides support to another 4,000 units managed by other organizations. For more information, visit www.gov.mb.ca/housing.
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