June 5, 2023
Governments of Canada and Manitoba Announce Opening of Safe, Affordable Housing Complex Featuring Onsite Mental Health and Addiction Supports
– – –Ross Ellen Housing Complex Supports People with Mental Health or Addiction Issues who are Experiencing Homelessness: Hussen, Squires
Watch news conference
The governments of Canada and Manitoba today announced the opening of a new three-storey micro-suite apartment building in Winnipeg’s Centennial neighbourhood to support people with mental health or addiction issues who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness.
“Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. Today’s announcement reflects our ongoing collaboration with all orders of government to deliver meaningful results and increased affordability for vulnerable Canadians,” said federal Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion Ahmed Hussen. “Through this combined investment, we are creating 47 homes of affordable housing for those who need it most in Winnipeg. This is just one of the many ways the National Housing Strategy is ensuring no one is left behind.”
“Addressing the complex challenge of homelessness calls for innovative approaches that address its root causes in a holistic way,” said Manitoba Families Minister Rochelle Squires. “This new affordable housing building aligns with our government’s new homelessness strategy that will fund up to 700 new social housing units this year and introduce new wrap-around services to help those experiencing homelessness. We have been pleased to collaborate with our colleagues in the federal and municipal governments, as well as our partners in the private sector, on this important initiative.”
The new Ross Ellen housing complex at 390 Ross Ave. includes a commercial kitchen and common dining area on the ground floor, as well as a living room, game room, TV area and a round room for Indigenous cultural activities. The landscaped fenced yards feature an outdoor patio and community garden area for tenants. Squires noted 15 of the 47 units will be accessible for people with disabilities.
Residents of the new complex will not be required to live a sober lifestyle, but supervised supports will be available for those seeking recovery from addictions. Support staff will be onsite 24-7.
Home First Winnipeg Inc., a non-profit charitable corporation established by the Pollard family to provide safe, quality and affordable housing for Winnipeg’s homeless population, developed and built the three-storey, 47-micro-suite apartment building. The Pollard family donated $4.6 million towards the $9.0 million cost of the development.
“Home First Winnipeg and the Pollard family are very pleased to be able to open these 47 homes for people in Winnipeg coming out of homelessness. We want to thank everyone who helped us achieve this, and in particular the provincial and federal governments who provided valuable funding,” said John Pollard, Home First Winnipeg. “Our model for a fully supported, housing first approach is relatively new to Winnipeg but we are confident it can be successful in providing those at risk of homelessness a safe, permanent place to call home.”
The governments of Canada and Manitoba provided more than $1.1 million for the project through the Canada-Manitoba Housing Agreement under the National Housing Strategy, which was signed by both governments in 2019. The 10-year bilateral agreement provides almost $450.8 million in joint funding to protect, renew and expand social and community housing, and supports the Manitoba government’s priorities related to housing repair, construction and affordability.
An additional $800,000 was provided through the Shared Health Priorities bilateral agreement. The Government of Canada has provided $2.2 million through the National Housing Co-Investment Fund (NHCF), a key pillar of the National Housing Strategy, as a forgivable loan in support of this project.
The Manitoba government will continue to fund the project through an annual operating commitment, which includes shelter and meal benefits paid to Employment and Income Assistance, a rent subsidy from the Canada-Manitoba Housing Benefit and funding from the Mental Health and Addictions Bilateral Agreement.
The federal government also provided a capital grant of $100,000 through Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy and the City of Winnipeg is providing a capital grant of $100,000.
Today’s announcement builds on previously announced provincial commitments to address homelessness, including:
- increasing the basic needs budget for people on Employment and Income Assistance and the index rates for Rent Assist;
- providing operating funds for N’Dinawemak;
- training shelter support workers with critical skills in mental health and addictions, de-escalation techniques and trauma-informed care;
- tripling the number of provincial mentors to support and help people transition out of homelessness and increasing salaries to retain them; and
- providing funds for an overflow space at the homeless shelter in Brandon.
To read the Manitoba government’s new homelessness strategy, visit https://www.gov.mb.ca/fs/homelessness.
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