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Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Renters group wants Kinew to make good on rent-control promise made during 2023 campaign
A Manitoba housing advocacy group is putting the provincial NDP on notice after they say campaign promises to better protect renters have been left unanswered. The Right to Housing Coalition took to Premier Wab Kinew's constituency office Friday morning to deliver what they described as a warning letter about the province's inaction on rent-control legislation, despite promising to 'bring in stronger rent controls and make housing more affordable for renters' while campaigning as the NDP leader in 2023. 'When anyone rents a place, they enter into an agreement — in Premier Kinew's tenancy as a premier, he said that he would put it as a priority to strengthen rent-control legislation to protect our renters from big rate hike increases. And we've gone through two sessions of the legislature and that has not happened,' said Les Scott. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Les Scott (left) a member of the West Broadway Tenant's Committee during a protest outside Premier Kinew's constituency office at 565 Osborne St. Friday. 'So, yes, we say that he has violated his contract.' While the NDP was in opposition, then-housing critic Adrien Sala, currently the minister of finance, introduced a bill that would make it more difficult for landlords to apply for and get approval for rent increases above the province's set guidelines. The bill proposed tightening the list of capital expenses that could be included in the landlord's above-guideline rent increase application. Sala introduced the legislation after a freedom of information request revealed that every one of the 310 above-guideline rent increase requests submitted to the Residential Tenancies Board in 2019 was granted. That bill did not move forward. Scott said the NDP, now in government, can re-introduce it. 'The legislation has been written, it just has not been introduced… I can't comment on (why), but I'm sure there's a lot of pressure from property managers that would be opposed to this,' he said. Rent control legislation falls under the responsibility of the minister of public service delivery. Scott said Right to Housing has spoken with both current minister Mintu Sandhu and Lisa Naylor, who previously held the position; both were 'interested' in the legislation, but neither took action. Sandhu said he planned to meet with Right to Housing Monday and his office is still reviewing the Residential Tenancies Act to find ways to better protect renters. 'We are reviewing it and then we will be acting on that review, because we want to make sure we get it right,' he said. Much of the provincial government's public-facing focus on housing issues has been through the implementation of the Your Way Home strategy to end chronic homelessness. Moving forward on one aspect of Manitoba's housing crisis while leaving another in the dust is a matter of political will, said Shauna MacKinnon, chair of the University of Winnipeg's department of urban and inner-city studies. 'They try to kind of get around by doing a little here, do a little there, and then that's why we're in this problem that we're in, that's been regularly getting worse,' she said. While she's happy to see the province invest in social housing for people in urgent need, she argued that pressure from building managers could be behind the province's slow pace on rent controls. 'We would be seen as one of the more progressive (provinces) because it's an NDP government. But we always run up against the wall, right?' she said. Sent weekly from the heart of Turtle Island, an exploration of Indigenous voices, perspectives and experiences. 'They'll only go so far, and they won't do what's necessary, (while) trying to please everybody… people are disappointed, they had hoped for a lot more.' Sandhu disagreed, pointing to a recent bill tabled by the NDP that would require landlords to provide financial support to tenants displaced due to a safety issue, including footing the bill for hotel rooms and personal belongings. 'I'm not under pressure from anyone, I'm listening to (advocates),' he said. The proposal includes exceptions if the landlord took all reasonable steps to prevent the circumstances that resulted in a vacate order, or if the damage was caused by a tenant. Malak AbasReporter Malak Abas is a city reporter at the Free Press. Born and raised in Winnipeg's North End, she led the campus paper at the University of Manitoba before joining the Free Press in 2020. Read more about Malak. Every piece of reporting Malak produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘You can't force people into housing'
Tents, tarps, and makeshift shelters line the beaten path along the Assiniboine River near Balmoral Street in West Broadway — a community hidden in plain sight. At first glance, the scene could be mistaken for a Manitoba summer festival: there are colourful tents, birds chirping overhead, and geese with their goslings feeding nearby. The natural beauty of the river view masks the harsh truth. The mattresses, shopping carts, broken glass, empty naloxone kits and food wrappers break the illusion. This isn't a weekend retreat. This is home. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS A large encampment along the banks of the Assiniboine River at the end of Spence Street at Balmoral Street. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS A large encampment along the embankment of the Assiniboine River at the end of Spence Street off of Balmoral Street. Reporter: Scott Billeck 250528 - Wednesday, May 28, 2025. Curtis, a 44-year-old who is originally from Saskatchewan, wears a black Red River College nursing program zip-up hoodie. He has been without a home for the past six or seven years. He says he'd move into permanent housing 'today, if I could.' But walking away from his camp family — and the freedom of life outside of society — isn't easy. 'It's abandonment,' he said. 'I'd feel like I'm leaving them behind.' That feeling runs deep for Curtis, who says he knows the pain of separation. The father of four hasn't seen his children since his own father died four or five years ago. 'Living in the white society is really tough being a native — an Indian, a savage, a scrub,' he says. 'That's what we've been called for hundreds of years, and for hundreds of years more, it will be the same.' He questions why there's homelessness in a country such as Canada, and how people can go about their business. 'The most richest city in Canada — Vancouver — they have a whole street full of homeless people. How is that possible?' he said. 'How does the richest city allow a whole street to be homeless?' He also offers insight into why many people stay outside, pointing to friends evicted from government-supported housing for breaking strict rules — including having visitors. 'It's hard to abide by the rules of a situated house,' Curtis said. 'We're free. There's freedom (living unsheltered) right here.' For many in Winnipeg's encampments, the path to housing is far from straightforward. Trauma, addiction and complex life circumstances often stand in the way of simply finding a bed. Curtis says he was supposed to start a job on Monday, but he didn't show up. 'I hadn't really slept for two to three weeks… because of my drug of choice,' he said, holding a cloudy glass pipe in his hand. 'Choices and consequences,' he says, repeating those three words often. Mentioning the NDP government's two-year, $20-million Your Way Home strategy earns mixed reviews among the unsheltered. Some seem eager for the province to accelerate its pace, while others remain skeptical it will change anything. 'There's a huge trust issue,' says another woman. 'Trust is a big thing. Technically, I think everybody wants housing, but there's peace of mind. It boils down to rules and regulations.' 'Domestication,' says another man, who refuses to elaborate out of anger. Main Street Project declined to comment, instead pointing the Free Press to its public educational material that explains why some people avoid shelters. 'People may experience barriers to accessing shelters or choose not to go,' the 18-page document says. 'Barriers may include shelters being at capacity; having restrictions on pets, belongings or alcohol; separating couples; or requiring detailed intake criteria or processes. It also notes that people avoid shelters due to past experiences of violence, crowding, stigma, and safety concerns. Al Wiebe, who was homeless for 29 months and later became an advocate, says the reasons are many. 'They have to feel respected, and they don't right now,' he says. 'There needed to be more consultation. And the rhetoric about shutting down encampments, people's homes… there's never going to not be encampments,' says the man who recently received the King's Coronation Medal for community service. Wiebe says encampment communities keep people alive. 'You can't force people into housing; they will leave housing,' Wiebe says, adding that soon the province will likely learn the approach is flawed. A few blocks west of the riverside, a small encampment is tucked into a park, partially hidden by bushes. A woman says she's been on a housing waiting list for years, struggled with obtaining proper ID and related delays forced her to survive outside. 'I hate living like this,' she says, adding she's been on the streets for the past three years. Premier Wab Kinew said during question period Wednesday, not far from where the woman lives, that it could take six to seven years to repair the damage he accused the former PC government of causing. Kinew added that MSP has housed 37 of the 40 people who have left encampments to date. The province has said it wants to move about 700 people from encampments into housing. The woman says she's grateful for organizations such as MSP and people in West Broadway who bring food, water, and supplies — even tarps to keep out the elements. MSP's outreach services, as outlined in its material, include essential items and relationship-building efforts. 'Each element is crucial in building meaningful relationships with people who have been repeatedly disappointed, and who have experienced so much systemic harm and oppression,' the document reads. 'Something as simple as offering food and coffee to someone experiencing homelessness lays the groundwork for building critical trust.' Last week, MSP came under fire when its outreach staff were recorded dragging tents and belongings to the riverbank in Point Douglas, another of the city's encampment hot spots. MSP declined to comment, referring only to a letter it sent in response to the Point Douglas residents committee, which was outraged by staff behaviour. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. On Monday, Housing Minister Bernadette Smith directed MSP — one of the key players in the province's Your Way Home strategy — and other service organizations not to move people into encampments. 'Going forward, it's from encampment to housing. The Your Way Home strategy outlines that pretty clearly,' she said. Back at the riverbank, some residents acknowledged they had received tents from shelters — though they didn't name them. 'I'm grateful,' one person says. Scott BilleckReporter Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade's worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024. Read more about Scott. Every piece of reporting Scott produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Your Way Home has moved 40 people from encampments into housing: Kinew
More than three dozen former occupants of outdoor encampments have been successfully moved into housing since a plan to end chronic homelessness was launched in January, Premier Wab Kinew said Wednesday. Kinew, answering a question in the legislature directed to Housing, Addictions and Homelessness Minister Bernadette Smith, said 40 people have been relocated so far. Progressive Conservative MLA Kathleen Cook had suggested the number was just 33, and wanted to know how many encampments that had been cleared are now being re-occupied. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES Premier Wab Kinew said 40 people have so far been moved into housing and out of homeless encampments. Kinew said 37 of the 40 were moved into housing by Main Street Project. Last week, the Point Douglas Residents' Committee wrote a letter to the non-profit organization looking for answers after one of its vans and staff were recorded delivering tents and suitcases to a previously cleared riverbank site. The province's Your Way Home strategy calls for housing people with needed supports, clearing encampment sites and then ensuring that they're not reoccupied. On Monday, Smith said she has directed service providers to help people move out of encampments, not into them. Weekday Mornings A quick glance at the news for the upcoming day. At an unrelated press conference Wednesday morning, the premier was asked if he had an explanation or understanding of why Main Street Project was delivering tents and suitcases to an encampment. 'Yeah, I do. And I think we'll have more to share,' he said.
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
New homeless camps off the table, Manitoba government tells Main Street Project
The province has put Main Street Project on notice after agency workers were captured on video helping set up a homeless encampment in Point Douglas last week where one had recently been cleared. Housing, Addictions and Homelessness Minister Bernadette Smith has directed MSP — one of the key players in the province's Your Way Home strategy to end homelessness — and other service delivery organizations not to move people into encampments. 'I have talked to them about this situation,' Smith said in an interview with the Free Press Monday. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Minister of housing, addictions and homelessness Bernadette Smith has directed the Main Street Project and other service delivery organizations not to move people into encampments. 'Going forward, it's from encampment to housing. The Your Way Home strategy outlines that pretty clearly,' she said. The stated goal of Your Way Home, the two-year $20-million initiative announced by Premier Wab Kinew in January is moving people living outside into appropriate housing with needed supports, one camp at a time. The sites are to be cleaned up afterward, with city crews monitoring to ensure they're not reoccupied. 'If there are situations where we don't have housing available and there is an unsafe condition and there's unique circumstances, then they are to get in touch with us and we will deal with those, case by case,' Smith said. 'All of the service delivery organizations have known that that is the strategy and, moving forward, that is what everyone needs to follow.' A Point Douglas resident captured video last Tuesday of a Main Street Project outreach van dropping off two individuals, along with a tent, tarp, suitcases and other supplies. Two agency workers helped drag the equipment down to the riverbank and assisted in setting up the shelter. The resident, Howard Warren, informed the Point Douglas Residents Committee, which composed a letter raising several neighbourhood concerns that was sent to MSP and copied to Kinew, Mayor Scott Gillingham, the Progressive Conservative housing critic, End Homelessness Winnipeg, the United Way and the Winnipeg Foundation. Smith said both individuals in the encampment were moved into housing over the weekend. 'We are all on the same page that we need to get people into housing.'–Minister Bernadette Smith MSP — a non-profit health organization largely funded with public money via various government programs and grants — has declined repeated Free Press requests for comment since the letter was revealed last Thursday; a promised statement Monday afternoon did not materialize. Smith said she spoke to Gillingham Monday, and that he is 'on board' with her directive to MSP executives. 'We are all on the same page that we need to get people into housing,' she said. 'If housing isn't available, and there are unique circumstances, we will deal with them as they arise.' Earlier in the day at an unrelated event, Gillingham mentioned that End Homelessness Winnipeg — an Indigenous housing advocate organization responsible for distributing federal program funds — plans to convene a meeting of representatives from homelessness agencies, the province and city to discuss the Point Douglas Residents Committee's concerns. The matter was raised during question period in the Manitoba legislature Monday by Morden-Winkler MLA Carrie Hiebert, the Tories' housing, addictions and homelessness critic, who wanted to know whether Smith could ensure no taxpayer dollars would be used to help set up new encampments. Smith said rather than address the growing number of homeless people, the former PC government sold off social housing units, making matters worse. Wednesdays A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future. 'I've talked to some of those folks that are in encampments that were living in those units that are now getting wraparound supports,' she said afterward. 'They're on a path to whatever it is that they want to succeed at in their life, whether it's reunification with their families or getting into a program so they can build their skills and get into the workforce or stable housing.' SCOTT BILLECK / FREE PRESS 'These are Manitobans that deserve to live in dignified housing. Manitobans were pretty clear they didn't want to see folks living in encampments, bus shelters, under bridges. The previous government left people in those situations. 'We're going to continue to support and get housing online and get people out of encampments with the supports they need.' — With files from Joyanne Pursaga Carol SandersLegislature reporter Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol. Every piece of reporting Carol produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
26-05-2025
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
New homelessness camps off the table, province tells Main Street Project
The province has put Main Street Project on notice after agency workers were captured on video helping set up a homeless encampment in Point Douglas last week where one had recently been cleared. Housing, Addictions and Homelessness Minister Bernadette Smith has directed MSP — one of the key players in the province's Your Way Home strategy to end homelessness — and other service delivery organizations not to move people into encampments. 'I have talked to them about this situation,' Smith said in an interview with the Free Press Monday. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Minister of housing, addictions and homelessness Bernadette Smith has directed the Main Street Project and other service delivery organizations not to move people into encampments. 'Going forward, it's from encampment to housing. The Your Way Home strategy outlines that pretty clearly,' she said. The stated goal of Your Way Home, the two-year $20-million initiative announced by Premier Wab Kinew in January is moving people living outside into appropriate housing with needed supports, one camp at a time. The sites are to be cleaned up afterward, with city crews monitoring to ensure they're not reoccupied. 'If there are situations where we don't have housing available and there is an unsafe condition and there's unique circumstances, then they are to get in touch with us and we will deal with those, case by case,' Smith said. 'All of the service delivery organizations have known that that is the strategy and, moving forward, that is what everyone needs to follow.' A Point Douglas resident captured video last Tuesday of a Main Street Project outreach van dropping off an individual, along with a tent, tarp, suitcases and other supplies. Two agency workers helped drag the equipment down to the riverbank and assisted in setting up the shelter. The resident, Howard Warren, informed the Point Douglas Residents Committee, which composed a letter raising several neighbourhood concerns that was sent to MSP and copied to Kinew, Mayor Scott Gillingham, the Progressive Conservative housing critic, End Homelessness Winnipeg, the United Way and the Winnipeg Foundation. MSP — a non-profit health organization largely funded with public money via various government programs and grants — has declined repeated Free Press requests for comment since the letter was revealed last Thursday; a promised statement Monday afternoon did not materialize. 'We are all on the same page that we need to get people into housing.'–Minister Bernadette Smith Smith said she spoke to Gillingham Monday, and that he is 'on board' with her directive to MSP executives. 'We are all on the same page that we need to get people into housing,' she said. 'If housing isn't available, and there are unique circumstances, we will deal with them as they arise.' Earlier in the day at an unrelated event, Gillingham mentioned that End Homelessness Winnipeg — an Indigenous housing advocate organization responsible for distributing federal program funds — plans to convene a meeting of representatives from homelessness agencies, the province and city to discuss the Point Douglas Residents Committee's concerns. The matter was raised during question period in the Manitoba legislature Monday by Morden-Winkler MLA Carrie Hiebert, the Tories' housing, addictions and homelessness critic, who wanted to know whether Smith could ensure no taxpayer dollars would be used to help set up new encampments. Smith said rather than address the growing number of homeless people, the former PC government sold off social housing units, making matters worse. Wednesdays A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future. 'I've talked to some of those folks that are in encampments that were living in those units that are now getting wraparound supports,' she said afterward. 'They're on a path to whatever it is that they want to succeed at in their life, whether it's reunification with their families or getting into a program so they can build their skills and get into the workforce or stable housing.' 'These are Manitobans that deserve to live in dignified housing. Manitobans were pretty clear they didn't want to see folks living in encampments, bus shelters, under bridges. The previous government left people in those situations. SCOTT BILLECK / FREE PRESS 'We're going to continue to support and get housing online and get people out of encampments with the supports they need.' — With files from Joyanne Pursaga Carol SandersLegislature reporter Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol. Every piece of reporting Carol produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
