July 27, 2026
Manitoba Government Investing in Safe, Supportive Housing for Women and Gender-Diverse People in Winnipeg's North End
– – –Funding through Mino'Ayaawag Ikwewag Strategy Will Expand Transitional Housing and Wraparound Supports through the North End Women's Centre: Fontaine
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The Manitoba government is providing $459,000 to the North End Women’s Centre (NEWC) to expand its transitional housing program and help more women and gender-diverse people access safe housing, wraparound supports and pathways to healing. This new funding brings the total support through Mino’Ayaawag Ikwewag to $1.34 million, Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine, minister responsible for women and gender equity, announced today.
“Safe and stable housing is foundational to healing, empowerment and opportunity,” said Fontaine. “This investment will increase access to community connection and culturally responsive support for women and gender-diverse relatives who are moving forward in their healing journeys to reclaim their lives, stories and histories.”
The planned development at 390 Selkirk Ave., adjacent to NEWC’s existing facilities, will include eight new transitional housing spaces and on-site community programming and supports. The project will double the size of the agency’s existing drop-in centre and transitional housing space to enable NEWC to support more participants.
NEWC has been providing a range of low-barrier services for women, their families and gender-diverse people for more than 40 years. This includes counselling, outreach and information and referral services for individuals and children who have been impacted or are at risk of being impacted by family violence.
“NEWC has always stood beside and supported women. We believe in them. We see them. We know that regardless of their personal histories, and because of their personal histories, they deserve kindness and opportunities to move forward,” said Cynthia Drebot, executive director, NEWC. “We also know that system inequalities mean that women and gender-diverse folks deserve a place where they are welcomed with love. NEWC is extremely grateful to the Manitoba government’s Mino’Ayaawag Ikwewag Strategy for this investment in the expansion of our centre to create more opportunities to settle into a safe place to live, while being welcomed into a community of care, through our drop-in and supportive programs. We are grateful to Minister Fontaine for her vision and support.”
The investment is being made through the Mino’Ayaawag Ikwewag: All Women Doing Well strategy, Manitoba’s whole-of-government strategy aimed at the empowerment, safety and protection of Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit and gender-diverse people. The funding advances three of the eight pillars of the strategy (Healthy Communities, Housing, and Justice and Safety).
For more information or to read the Mino’Ayaawag Ikwewag: All Women Doing Well strategy, visit: www.gov.mb.ca/wage/minoayaawag-ikwewag.html.
Construction is expected to begin in fall 2027, the minister noted.
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