Privately donated homeless warming sheds removed by city By: Ben Waldman Posted: 7:00 PM CST Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019 Last Modified: 2:32 PM CST Friday, Dec. 6, 2019 Updates

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This article was published 04/12/2019 (1849 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Along the Disraeli Freeway, a stone’s throw from many of Winnipeg’s downtown homeless shelters and service centres, there is a parcel of greenspace covered by tents and other temporary shelters. It stands as evidence of the city’s deep-rooted poverty, high barriers to adequate housing, and that people living on the street often prefer to do so on their own terms.

Michael Belhumeur saw it, and along with the Urban Knights and Ladies Veterans Ambassador Peace Patrol, a volunteer group he founded in 1976, he wanted to do something about it.

Earlier this year, the organization enlisted a carpentry class at a high school in Stonewall to build a pair of warming huts, to be placed in Winnipeg where they might be of good use to homeless people, specifically veterans.

On Nov. 29, the two small, wooden huts (which were rudimentary: no insulation or windows) were erected near Disraeli Freeway. But within a few days, they were dismantled — Belhumeur says “destroyed” by heavy machinery without him being notified.

“I was absolutely distraught,” said Belhumeur, a military veteran himself.

The Winnipeg Police Service dismantled the warming huts over the weekend, citing violations to various city bylaws and regulations.

Police emailed photos of the huts the day they were erected to End Homelessness Winnipeg, an organization aimed at reducing homelessness and the effects of poverty in the city.

Like the police, upon seeing the huts, members of End Homelessness expressed concerns regarding the huts’ potential impact on the safety of those who might use them.

“Although it was probably well-intended, it’s not necessarily helping with the situation we’re trying to push forward with,” said Chrupalo, who also said police had tried to contact Belhumeur before and after the structures were put up.

Chrupalo said the huts presented liability issues, and could compromise the safety of people using them.

“We can’t have these two permanent shelters getting dropped off just because someone thinks it’s a good idea,” he said. “I get it, and I appreciate their intent, but there’s just a process for all of this to go through.”

Police reiterated no nearby tents nor their tenants were removed, and they have no plans to do so.

Lucille Bruce, chief executive officer of End Homelessness, said while it was clear the intentions were good and heart-felt, it would have been prudent for Belhumeur and his organization to contact the City of Winnipeg before going forward with the plan.

Since July, End Homelessness has been deputized as central co-ordinator in the city’s efforts to combat homelessness and address encampments, working alongside elected officials and community stakeholders to develop long-term strategies for both.

“We’re trying to work in a very co-ordinated and strategic fashion,” said Bruce, who said she would be open to meeting with Belhumeur in the future.

However, Belhumeur said he did reach out before going forward with the hut project, contacting End Homelessness, WPS, several city councillors, the mayor’s office, and a number of front-line organizations. Some gave assurances the huts would be well-received and placement wouldn’t violate any rules or regulations, he said.

“We can’t have these two permanent shelters getting dropped off just because someone thinks it’s a good idea. I get it, and I appreciate their intent, but there’s just a process for all of this to go through.” – WPS Sgt. Brian Chrupalo

Bruce said despite the miscommunication, the core idea of providing humane shelter in the form of “tiny” or “modular” structures is something her organization is researching as part of its five-year plan, along with housing options geared toward youth, LGBTTQ* community, and Indigenous people, and a co-ordinated access system for people seeking social or housing-related services.

Some cities have already adopted the “tiny house” or “tiny village” model for low-income housing, such as Edmonton, Ottawa and Calgary. In October, a village of 15, 275-square-foot homes built for veterans in the style of an army barracks were opened in Calgary. The roughly $5-million project was funded by Homes for Heroes, ATCO, and Mustard Seed, a Calgary-based poverty reduction agency, and features on-site counselling services.

The Urban Knights’ huts were built on a considerably smaller budget.

One more advanced hut was built for the group by Greenwald Hutterite Colony, featuring a bed and fixtures for electricity and plumbing. Belhumeur said he has plans to find a spot for it in the future, after going through proper channels.

Chrupalo said police are not be looking at any charges for violation of city bylaws.

For his part, Belhumeur understands the criticisms of the project, but is disappointed the huts were destroyed and the work of the students who built them barely had time to make an impact.

“There were practical motives for putting these huts down,” he said. “The huts were meant as a social justice statement, and we wanted them to reflect the compassion of the community, highlight the humanity of the homeless, and reflect the carnal neglect the city has imposed on the poor.

“It was meant to be a good thing.”

ben.waldman@freepress.mb.ca

Ben Waldman
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Ben Waldman covers a little bit of everything for the Free Press.

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