The government of Manitoba said it has moved 33 people from encampments into housing as part of efforts to shut down and clear out encampments across the province.
The move has seen 17 encampments cleared in the past three months, according to Housing, Addictions, and Homelessness Minister Bernadette Smith.
The province has put aside $6.4 million to build 67 more social housing units in a partnership with Main Street Project, Siloam Mission, and Sunshine House.
“There should be no chronic homelessness in a rich country like Canada,” Smith said. “We’re bringing more housing online and working with partners to get folks housed with the wraparound supports they need to succeed.”
The province’s plan to move people into homes and shut down encampments was announced in January, where it said it aimed to develop 300 social housing units.
Manitoba’s government said it will tackle one encampment at a time, and will also offer mental health and addictions supports to those moved into housing.
Outreach teams will work to move people into homes over a 30-day transition period, the government said.
The province estimates about 700 people are living in encampments in the province, 75 percent of them men.
Carrie Hiebert, the Progressive Conservative shadow minister for housing, addictions, and homelessness, previously said she is not confident the province has the capacity for the plan.
Hiebert has asked where the government was going to get extra support and staff to be running the programs it has announced.
