Province responds to plight of homeless
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 25/06/2020 (1547 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Manitoba Families Minister Heather Stefanson says it’s just not right that people have to live under bridges.
So on Friday, she announced the province is willing to spend $760,000 to expand support to vulnerable people as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
She made the announcement at the Salvation Army’s Centre of Hope, which will get $360,000. The rest of the money will be divided by Main Street Project and a Manitoba Housing facility on Sargent Avenue.
“The funding recognizes physical distancing requirements that have been a challenge in COVID times and also recognizes the important work that Salvation Army does in our community, to help the most vulnerable people in our community to ensure that they have that continuity of care,” said Stefanson.
Maj. Gordon Taylor, executive director of the Centre of Hope, said the money is desperately needed.
“This just really helps us keep the doors open,” said Taylor.
He said the Salvation Army and other shelters have the bed space to accommodate the homeless population, but many prefer to live outside in the summer.
The funding is in addition to the $1.2 million the province promised for shelters in April.
The announcement was made a day after the City of Winnipeg was forced to turn off noisemakers under bridges where homeless people set up tents. The public works department said the devices were intended to keep all citizens away after fires damaged the structures last fall.
The move received widespread backlash, including from city councillors who called it mean-spirited.
Stefanson refused to be drawn into the debate.
“I’m not going to get into operational decision-making that happens at city hall,” she said.
“I think that’s exactly why we’re here today, because we want to be able to at least provide that option for those individuals for a safe environment, like here at the Salvation Army. We would encourage them to look and seek help in that population with organizations like this.”
nadya.pankiw@freepress.mb.ca
