End Homelessness Winnipeg

Together we can end homelessness in Winnipeg

Oraye St. Franklyn

Posted: Filed Under: Events

December 1 – 3rd, 2025, Winnipeg 

Join us at the Canad Inns Destination Centre Polo Park from December 1 – 3 2025, in Winnipeg for the Ending Homelessness Together gathering. This year’s theme is Igniting the Flame, Fanning our Spirit.

We are pleased to have over 50 speakers and workshop leaders including mental health advocate and Olympic medalist Clara Hughes, Melody Barr (City of Houston), and Accessibility Advocate Frances Sinclair-Kaspick who will share their experiences and offer insights.

Our 2025 programming is thoughtfully guided by the teachings of the medicine wheel – focusing on the interconnected aspects of the heart, mind, body, and spirit, and reflecting the importance of harmony in addressing homelessness.

This event focuses on action, celebrating achievements, forging connections, and fostering collaborations to redefine future services. Together, we’ll build a comprehensive approach to ending homelessness through shared knowledge and actionable solutions.

Elder and Student discount Tickets are available. Make sure to register today using the button below!

Registration Now Open

For the full program itinerary and event details, click here!

Follow us on our socials at: LINKEDIN | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

Posted: Filed Under: Community Blog

SUPPORT SERVICE PROVIDER LIST
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING, ADDICTIONS AND HOMELESSNESS

INTRODUCTION
The goal of this Expression of Interest (EOI) is to identify service providers interested in expanding their support services within their housing portfolio or in partnership with housing developers.

Service providers aligned with the department’s criteria will be posted on the Housing Starts Here webpage as a resource for housing developers seeking to connect with service delivery partners. Some proponents may also be invited to participate in further opportunities with us or our funding partners, including securing housing for their clients and informing housing design.

DISCLAIMER
This EOI process is not a comprehensive assessment of a provider’s capacity or qualifications. Inclusion on the list does not represent a funding commitment, now or in the future. The list is based on a limited due diligence process conducted by Manitoba Housing. Housing developers and partnering agencies are expected to conduct their own due diligence when selecting and engaging service providers. If an EOI submission is rejected, Manitoba Housing reserves the right to work with the service provider to attempt to address any issues.

BACKGROUND
The Manitoba government is committed to ending chronic homelessness over the next seven years by increasing the supply of social and affordable housing units across the province. The government has also identified a significant shortfall of mobile and onsite supports for people struggling with mental health, substance use disorder/addictions and other co-occurring needs. Left unaddressed, these challenges often put people at high risk of homelessness and incarceration, as well as increasing their reliance on the health and emergency service systems.

To advance our mandate to end chronic homelessness, the Department of Housing, Addictions and Homelessness (“the department”) has redesigned Manitoba Housing’s approach to supporting the development of social and affordable housing. This new approach, known as Housing Starts Here, ensures housing projects are ‘shovel-ready’ sooner by:
  • Accepting proposals at any time.
  • Allowing groups to apply to multiple programs through a single proposal.
  • Aligning provincial funding requirements with those of other major funders.
  • Committing operating funding prior to construction.
  • Providing a preliminary funding decision within eight weeks of receiving a complete proposal.

The new approach also prioritizes the development of housing with supports—the most needed type of housing to address homelessness—by requiring that proposals include provisions for the delivery of onsite and/or mobile support services to assist tenants in maintaining their housing over the long-term. In November 2024, the department launched a new online portal to deliver the new approach.

However, the department recognizes that housing developers may not have the connections to service providers needed to incorporate support services into their projects, limiting their ability to address the housing needs of people experiencing homelessness. To address this barrier, the department is seeking community organizations interested in being included on a list of support service providers.

Successful applicants will be selected based on the set of criteria outlined in Evaluation Criteria. Due to the overrepresentation of Indigenous peoples in Manitoba’s homeless population, as well as the systemic barriers to housing faced by Black communities, preference will be given to Indigenous- and Black-led organizations. Preference will also be given to organizations that serve other priority populations, including women, 2SLGBTQQIA+, youth aging out of care, people with physical and/or intellectual disabilities and other populations listed in the questionnaire. The support service provider list will be posted on the Housing Starts Here webpage. Each entry will include a brief overview of the organization, preferred contact information and the level(s) of supports they are interested in providing.

DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

The department is seeking organizations interested in providing one or more of the following levels of support services.

Rapid Rehousing

Itinerant teams provide brief, targeted and structured intervention to individuals experiencing episodic homelessness to assist them quickly exit homelessness. This includes general case management to help participants acquire identification, access basic services (e.g. income) and secure rental housing. Once participants are housed, teams will provide time limited services to promote long-term housing stability. Rapid rehousing services include:

  • Assisting participant with completing rental applications.
  • Preparing, accompanying and/or negotiating on behalf of participant for interviews with landlords.
  • Ensuring that participant understands lease requirements before signing and conducting a move-in condition report with participant (including pictures).
  • Conducting daily in-home visits for the first month after move-in and weekly visits for the second and third months.
  • Remaining the point of contact for participant and landlord for one year in case personal or tenancy issues arise.

Intensive Case Management

Itinerant teams provide case management services to individuals experiencing episodic or chronic homelessness to facilitate access to housing, health and social supports. Teams may coordinate connections to withdrawal services, primary care, addiction medicine, home care, community counselling and other personalized supports. Intensive case management services include rapid rehousing services (described above) plus:

  • Assisting participant to plan and execute move-in, including coordinating the resources needed to facilitate housing opportunities and fulfill lease obligations.
  • Providing in-home support to assist participant with daily functioning, fulfilling tenant responsibilities and maintaining positive relations with other tenants.
  • Conducting daily in-home visits for the first month after move-in, followed by a minimum of twice-weekly in-home visits in subsequent months. Visits may be reduced to weekly once housing is stable.
  • Supporting participant to progress on individually identified goals related to health, recovery, self sufficiency and social integration.
  • Supporting participant to progress on individually identified goals related to health, recovery, self sufficiency and social integration.
  • Developing, supporting and reviewing practical plans to remain housed, meet health and personal goals and increase capacity using a harm reduction approach.
  • Remaining the point of contact for participant and landlord for one year in case personal or tenancy issues arise.

Assertive Community Treatment

Itinerant, multidisciplinary teams support individuals experiencing multilayered mental health issues as well as episodic or chronic homelessness to live in the community. Teams assist with daily living activities and provide access to both clinical and holistic supports (e.g. physical and mental health clinicians, elders, knowledge keepers). Teams may also facilitate collections to primary care, home care, supportive recovery housing, and community-based substance use services. Teams recognize that recovery can be circular and require the intensity of support vary. Assertive community treatment services include rapid rehousing and intensive case management services (described above), plus:

  • Ensuring team members are available 24/7 and provide real-time crisis response and support.
  • Providing medication management (where necessary).
  • Providing, or facilitating access to, a variety of services (advocacy, psychiatry, primary care, trauma recovery, family repatriation, justice system interactions, harm reduction, cultural activities, daily living skills and supported employment services).
  • Establishing partnerships with medical staff, elders and knowledge keepers to provide a two-eyed seeing approach, integrating Indigenous knowledge and traditional methods of healing.
  • Offering group-based support, intervention and social activities and promoting participants’ interdependence in the community.
  • Providing daily in-home services to participants for the first thirty days after move-in. Providing Monday to Friday in-home services in the subsequent eleven months.
  • Being available 24/7 to participants and landlords for a minimum of three months after move-in.

24/7 Onsite Support

Onsite, multidisciplinary teams support individuals experiencing episodic or chronic homelessness by providing a combination of intensive case management and assertive community treatment services depending on the unique needs of individual participants. Staff are available 24/7 and provide harm reduction, service planning, daily living assistance, crisis prevention and management, engagement and relationship building and integration with the community. The onsite support services include:

  • Trained staff response to critical incidents/safety issues due to disruptive behaviours, mental health issues and drug-induced psychosis. Work proactively with participants to develop more constructive responses to conflict and minimize violence, intimidation and exploitation.
  • Intensive, one-on-one engagement to build relationships with participants and draw them into participating in services.
  • Partnerships with medical staff, elders and knowledge keepers to provide a two-eyed seeing approach, integrating Indigenous knowledge and traditional methods of healing.
  • Supporting participants to make progress on individualized goals related to recovery, health, independence and social integration.
  • Providing, or facilitating access to, a variety of services (advocacy, psychiatry, primary care, trauma recovery, family repatriation, justice system interactions, harm reduction, cultural activities, daily living skills and supported employment services).
  • Identifying, educating and reducing harms associated with survival lifestyles (substance use, nutrition, sexual health, etc.), while promoting self-care.
  • Assisting with daily living skills, include money management, cooking, personal care and maintaining one’s personal environment. Delivering laundry services, either directly or through a third-party provider.
  • Developing a food services plan; participants are provided meals or receive assistance with meal preparation.
  • Implementing security and safety practices, including visitor management, site and common areas management, sign in/sign out procedures.
  • Offering group-based support, intervention and social activities. Promoting participants’ interdependence in the community.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

EOIs will be reviewed and evaluated by a selection committee, based on how well the proposal meets the below criteria:The department reserves the right to shortlist and contact any or all proponents to clarify their EOI and to select EOIs which best meet the established requirements.

EOI INSTRUCTIONS

Please complete the Support Service Provider List Questionnaire to apply.

After submitting the questionnaire, please email your organization’s most recent audited financial statements as an attachment to homelessness@gov.mb.ca with the subject line Support Service EOI – [Organization Name] – Audited Financial Statements.

Submissions will be accepted on an ongoing basis, and those meeting the criteria will be posted quarterly. The first intake deadline is May 30, 2025. Service providers are encouraged to send in their submissions by this date to be considered in this first round for projects in development.

The department reserves the right to work with service providers not meeting criteria to attempt to address any issues.
If you have any questions, please contact Maia Brothers at homelessness@gov.mb.ca.

Posted: Filed Under: Community Blog

As temperatures rise, coordinated community action is vital to keeping people safe. The 2025 Summer Weather Response Plan outlines how Winnipeg responds during extreme heat events, especially for those experiencing homelessness. Developed by the Extreme Weather Response Committee, the plan includes key safety measures, locations for hydration and cooling, emergency contacts, and tips for preventing heat-related illness.

Download the full plan and resource guide to learn how you can stay safe and help others this summer:

Summer Weather Response Plan 2025 (.pdf)

Summer Weather Resource Guide 2025 (pdf)

Posted: Filed Under: Events

CALL FOR SESSION PROPOSALS
December 1 – 3, 2025
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Get ready to make a difference! End Homelessness Winnipeg is pleased to announce a call for session proposals for our upcoming event: Ending Homelessness Together.

Join us at Canad Inns Destination Centre Polo Park in Winnipeg from December 1st-3rd, 2025, for a transformative gathering. The event will bring together staff working in the sector and people with lived experience of homelessness, as well as government, landlords, and businesses who can contribute to homelessness solutions.

This event isn’t just about discussion—it’s about action. We’re celebrating sector achievements, forging vital connections, and fostering collaborations that will redefine future services. Together, we’ll build a comprehensive approach to ending homelessness through shared knowledge and actionable solutions.

Our 2024 sold out with 300+ attendees over 2 and a half days. This year we are planning for 400 delegates, and 3 full days of programming.

The gathering’s program will be guided by the medicine wheel: looking at homelessness
symptoms and solutions through spiritual, emotional, physical, and mental lenses. We aim to offer a range of keynotes, panels, workshops, and creative sessions hosted by community leaders, decision-makers, people with lived experience of homelessness, and workers in the homelessness support sector. 75% of those experiencing homelessness identifying as Indigenous despite comprising only 14% of the city’s population. Therefore, we especially welcome proposals from Indigenous peoples, and presentations that specifically address this disparity.

Successful submissions may have a particular focus on the contextual framework of Winnipeg homelessness, or international inspiration that could be applied in Manitoba. Sessions are planned to be 90-120 minutes in length, and for 50-250 participants. However; if you would like to share your knowledge at the event and prefer a different length or format please apply and tell us more. If you would like to sit on a panel rather than host a session on your own, or submit two back-to-back sessions that complement each other, we invite your application.

HOW TO SUBMIT

Please upload your proposals to this google form.
If you have any questions, please contact: Conference@endhomelessnesswinnipeg.ca
Deadline for Submission: June 13, 2025

Please download a complete copy of this call for session proposal for more information.

Posted: Filed Under: Media Releases

Winnipeg, MB – End Homelessness Winnipeg (EHW) acknowledges the concerns raised by the Point Douglas Residents Committee in their letter dated May 21, 2025, regarding an outreach activity by Main Street Project (MSP) that was perceived as supporting the setup of a new encampment along the Red River.

We recognize the frustration and confusion expressed by community members, particularly in light of their recent volunteer-led cleanup of the same area. We affirm the community’s right to expect accountability and transparency in all homelessness responses, especially where taxpayer-funded services are involved and where public safety and environmental stewardship intersect. We also acknowledge that the Point Douglas Residents Committee is not opposed to meaningful solutions to the ravaging crisis of homelessness in Winnipeg. Their advocacy reflects a deep concern for both their neighbourhood and the wellbeing of those experiencing homelessness, and we share in their desire to see effective, coordinated, and dignified responses.

“We hear the Point Douglas residents clearly,” said Jason Whitford, CEO of End Homelessness Winnipeg. “No one wants encampments. But we must admit that when a person in distress has no safe shelter option immediately available, the choices left to outreach workers become limited and ethically complex. What we are seeing is not a failure of compassion, but a failure of systems and a housing crisis. These are what must urgently change.”

EHW does not directly operate outreach services or encampments, including the Van Patrol service named in the incident. Our role is to coordinate the broader system of homelessness response and ensure that partner agencies are aligned with principles of dignity, safety, and transparency.

We have reviewed the response issued by Main Street Project and acknowledge their reaffirmation that:

  • They do not support the establishment of encampments.
  • Their outreach services are governed by a human rights-based framework, including guidance from The Federal Housing Advocate’s Review of Homeless Encampments, Kíkinanaw Óma, and A National Protocol for Homeless Encampments in Canada.
  • They are actively working with government and community partners to move individuals from encampments into permanent housing, including through a new 41-unit tenancy initiative under Manitoba’s Your Way Home strategy.

Nevertheless, the incident in question raises legitimate questions of optics, practice, and public trust. Communities must not feel abandoned or bypassed in these responses. At the same time, people experiencing homelessness must not be reduced to environmental liabilities or mere statistics.
To address these concerns, End Homelessness Winnipeg is taking the following steps:

  1. Convene a sector meeting involving Main Street Project, the Province of Manitoba, Indigenous housing partners, and representatives from the Point Douglas community to review the incident, share protocols, and strengthen alignment on encampment response practices.
  2. Support improved communication protocols, so that residents are informed and engaged early when encampment risks are identified or when outreach activity may affect their neighbourhood.

“It is unacceptable that in a city as resourceful as Winnipeg, the only option some people have is a tent by the river,” added Whitford. “Let this moment serve as a call to action for more supportive housing, for clearer protocols, and for a shared commitment that protects both people and places.”

End Homelessness Winnipeg supports a coordinated, compassionate, and evidence-informed response to homelessness that respects both the rights of unhoused individuals and the concerns of residents. This means facing hard truths, being transparent, and working together for better outcomes.