Province funds shelter initiatives

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This article was published 16/08/2022 (1286 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Samaritan House Ministries in Brandon says the province has played an integral part in providing support for the city’s homeless population through much-needed funding for its Safe and Warm Shelter, which has seen an increase in traffic.

The first year the shelter received year-round funding, between 2020-21, Samaritan House recorded 277 clients, 72 of whom were youth ages 18 to 19. Thirty-two of the 277 clients were aged 55 or older. The shelter also reported 3,677 “bed nights” during that time.

The following year, between 2021-22, the shelter recorded 324 clients, 84 of whom were youth, while 38 were aged 55 and over, with a total bed night count of 8,264.

Samaritan House executive director Barbara McNish said the increase is likely from the shelter being open year-round now, instead of only the winter months.

“Our summers can be hot and rainy and not nice to sleep out in, so I think that … people are able to come, and they feel safe,” McNish said. “It’s safe and warm, and there’s a place where they can get a hot meal.”

Last Thursday, the province announced $6.3 million in funding for community agencies as part of Manitoba’s first whole-of-government strategy to end homelessness.

“These early steps our government is announcing today will ensure community-led organizations can continue to provide culturally appropriate services to people in need, so they can have safe places to call home and hope for the future,” Families Minister Rochelle Squires said in a press release issued Aug. 11.

The “whole-of-government” strategy is made of five key pillars the government identified after “broad community consultation.” The pillars include modernizing the emergency response, ensuring housing is provided with supports, focusing on prevention, improving service navigation and delivery, and recognizing rural and northern needs.

While work on the strategy is ongoing, the investments announced on Aug. 11 align with the overall goals of the strategy and feedback gathered in the first three months of 2022 through stakeholder engagement, the government said.

The province also mentioned its rent assistance programs, which offers support to low-income Manitobans with housing costs.

Over her years working with the provincial and federal governments, McNish said that both have been very helpful to the shelter.

“I really would say the province has been very supportive in us maintaining … a year-round shelter. I work with the province and network with them, and they ask for what might be helpful, so I am very hopeful that the province is moving forward to support shelters in the Westman area.”

Heather Bolech, site supervisor at the Samaritan House shelter, said it’s always a busy place, and she hopes some funding will go toward more than just housing.

“We can always use more assistance. People get lumped together as people who are experiencing homelessness, but within that demographic, you’ve got very specific needs as well.”

Bolech said Samaritan House connects people to services that will help them, from housing supports to health services and mental health outreach programs, to connecting people with EIA.

Samaritan House welcomes donations from the public. The most important items are listed on the organization’s Facebook page. Bolech said the organization sees plenty of support from local businesses and establishments, too.

McNish is full of gratitude thanks to the people who support Samaritan House.

“There are so many people that tag along with us that do these kinds of things,” McNish said. “There are so many different people … that come out, so we’re grateful for everyone that does that.”

The Sun also contacted Brandon Housing First for comment to learn how the funding might affect them or the community it serves; however, the Sun didn’t receive a response by press time.

As part of Manitoba’s whole-of-government strategy, support will be given to community-based organizations that are modernizing the emergency response and meeting acute needs in Winnipeg, the planned Homes for Heroes Veterans Village and transitional housing services offered by the West Central Women’s Resource Centre, according to the press release.

The province has also earmarked $1 million to relaunch the Proposal Development Funding program, which supports the development of new affordable and social housing projects while leveraging new federal funding program opportunities.

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