Winnipeg, MB – Today, the City of Winnipeg and End Homelessness Winnipeg-Reaching Home announced $265,000 in funding to support expanded “pop-up” shelter capacity this winter, ensuring Winnipeggers experiencing homelessness have a warm place to stay overnight.
The pop-up shelter will be housed at Siloam Mission, with staffing from Siloam Mission, 1JustCity, Main Street Project, and Sunshine House.
“We need to get people out of bus shelters and connect them with appropriate supports,” said Mayor Scott Gillingham. “This funding will help ensure everyone in Winnipeg has a safe, warm place to go during extreme weather periods, delivering on our shared commitment to build a stronger city where every individual is valued, supported, and protected.”
“We are pleased to provide funding, along with the City of Winnipeg, to help address overflowing emergency shelters,” said Jason Whitford, CEO of End Homelessness Winnipeg. “This is a testament to the remarkable collaboration with our community. Winnipeg is a compassionate city, and it has so many dedicated organizations working together to ensure a safe refuge for every community member in need.”
A decision to open the pop-up shelter will be made three days in advance and will depend on three factors to ensure staff and scheduling are ready:
- The overnight temperature “feels like” -10 C or colder (forecast three days in advance)
- All emergency shelters are consistently full (N’Dinawemak, Main Street Project, Salvation Army, Siloam Mission, and Just a Warm Sleep)
- A minimum of four staff are present
Pop-up hours will be from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., providing community members access to services such as snacks and coffee, as well as activities such as games and art kits. The pop-up will also be a safe space for community members to sleep or stay awake, depending on their needs.
“We’re excited to be hosting this important initiative made possible thanks to collaboration in our sector to make sure that there’s a space for everyone as these months get colder,” said Tessa Blaikie Whitecloud, CEO at Siloam Mission. “This short-term solution is needed this winter, but I hope in future winters we’ll have seen the investment and construction of housing units so that it is not needed.”
“This is a collective, collaborative effort to ensure that we have the ability to create safe spaces when all shelter beds are full,” said Jamil Mahmood, Executive Director at Main Street Project. “It is a testament to the willingness to work together and share resources to support our community when they need it.”
“We are very excited to be a part of this innovative strategy to address the needs of our kin during the harsh winter,” said Levi A. Foy, Executive Director at Sunshine House. “We are hoping that it will be a space where relationships are born strengthened, and people will feel seen and respected. Coming together as a group and working off one another’s strength will hopefully be a benefit to the City of Winnipeg while we are continually working towards long term sustainable housing solutions for our communities.”
The City’ contribution is $200,000, as part of $1 million approved by Council in the 2023 Budget to expand 24/7 Safe Space partnerships and pilot new extreme weather initiatives. End Homelessness Winnipeg-Reaching Home’s contribution is $65,000.
For more information on how the City is supporting Winnipeggers experiencing homelessness, please visit: winnipeg.ca/unshelteredwinnipeggers.