Addressing homelessness in Winnipeg

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/01/2023 (714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

I wish to start by wishing everyone the very best of the holiday season, hoping that 2023 brings much happiness, health, prosperity.

During the last civic election campaign, one of the most recurring calls for action heard while door-knocking was questions about how the City of Winnipeg can move the needle on reducing homelessness. The provision of an adequate supply of safe, affordable, and appropriate housing is a prerequisite to truly ending homelessness in the long term. Infrastructure is an important resource but by no means the only resource needed. For people who are either chronically or episodically homeless, systems must ensure proper programming is in place to enable them to receive housing and supports through Housing First initiatives.

Winnipeg has a tight housing market, so implementing a Housing First policy becomes increasingly challenging. It is also important to address the supply of affordable housing, in order to broaden access for other priority populations, including women fleeing violence, Indigenous Peoples, newcomer families, seniors and youth.

The federal government has recently made changes restricting foreign ownership to address Canada’s housing crisis. Ultimately it comes down to money and availability, which then begs the question about Canada’s national priorities on homelessness.

There are over $8.6 billion worth of annual tax and other benefits for which Canadian homeowners can apply. Recognizing this type of investment in home ownership and its importance reflects benefits in millions for middle-income households.

Spending on affordable housing for Canada’s poorest households however, is less than one quarter of that invested in home ownership — approximately $2.1 billion per year, which has declined quite dramatically over the past 25 years. We must work more collaboratively with each level of government, as the greatest impact of the decline has been on municipal governments across this nation.

Investments in housing ironically cost less than ignoring the housing problem. Consider the estimate that homelessness alone costs the Canadian economy over $7 billion per year. While the federal government invests $119 million annually to address homelessness through the Homelessness Partnering Strategy (provinces and municipalities also contribute), this is not sufficient to address the problem and has not led to a noticeable reduction in homelessness.

Last, it is important to acknowledge the front-line workers in all sectors, but specifically acknowledging those dedicated to providing support to those most vulnerable in our communities. In the face of this crisis, they have demonstrated the empathy and understanding of their professions —treat the less fortunate to the best of their abilities and working to preserve people’s dignity.