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End Homelessness Winnipeg Newsletter: March 2022

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End Homelessness Winnipeg launches new website
https://endhomelessnesswinnipeg.ca has a new look, thanks to an updated website launched March 28. Stop by to check it out! There is a ton of info on the organization’s work, strategies and partnerships; links to local resources; and more. 

Two-Spirited People of Manitoba announces Medicine Wolf Healing Place
Two-Spirited People of Manitoba has announced acquisition of land for its Medicine Wolf Healing Place Program, which supports Two-Spirit people at risk of and experiencing homelessness with access to ceremony, cultural workshops and land-based programming. Funding for this project was provided by Reaching Home: the Government of Canada’s homelessness strategy, administered by End Homelessness Winnipeg.  
“Two-Spirited People of Manitoba would like to extend our deepest appreciation to End Homelessness Winnipeg and the Government of Canada,” said Albert Beck, Two-Spirited People of Manitoba Board Chair, upon the announcement.  “Their collective contributions and engaging partnership have made it possible for our organization to offer this life-saving program to our community for the years to come.” Read more about Medicine Wolf Healing Place at https://www.facebook.com/medicinewolfhealingplace

Manitoba Métis Federation opens new Rapid Services site 
On March 22, End Homelessness Winnipeg staff joined local elected officials and Manitoba Métis Federation representatives for the official ribbon cutting ceremony at 550 Selkirk Avenue, a new community access point for Rapid Services to help those experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Rapid Services will be especially helpful for Métis citizens facing housing challenges since they integrate and expand access to existing MMF programs and supports. Individuals can call 204-589-1613 to book an appointment for housing support, advocacy, moving assistance, help with ID, wellness and basic needs. Congratulations to the Manitoba Métis Federation  for opening the doors of this new community resource!

Invest to End Homelessness in Provincial Budget 2022
Manitoba’s Provincial Budget is set to be announced on Tuesday, April 12. Make Poverty History Manitoba and Right to Housing Coalition have launched a campaign calling for the budget to invest in 300 new units of rent-geared-to-income housing annually for at least 5 years; and to increase the EIA basic needs benefit. To find out more and get involved, visit https://righttohousing.ca/

Miigwetch ~ Maarsii ~ Kinanâskomitin ~ Thank you!

End Homelessness Winnipeg Newsletter: February 2022 View this newsletter on Mailchimp Reaching Home Community Investment Update As Community Entity for Reaching Home since 2019, End Homelessness Winnipeg administers federal homelessness funding locally, to support vulnerable Winnipeggers in maintaining safe, stable, and affordable housing. From January to December 2021, End Homelessness Winnipeg, in consultation with Service Canada and the Community Advisory Board for Reaching Home, invested a total of more than $18 million across more than 35 local organizations. From street outreach and drop-in services, to Housing First and capital investments, Reaching Home supported local agencies assisting people each step along the journey from homelessness to housing, with an emphasis on Indigenous cultural safety and COVID-19 prevention. View the full list of organizations and initiatives supported here to find out more about some of the good work happening in our city. Winnipeg Progress Report Heads to UN End Homelessness Winnipeg is featured in a new report from United Way Winnipeg and the International Institute for Sustainable Development. The report provides the United Nations and a global network of cities with fresh insights on how Winnipeggers are faring in relation to the UN’s  Sustainable Development Goals. Winnipeg and the SDGs: A Voluntary Local Review of Progress 2021 continues the work of presenting annual reports and an online interactive dashboard (mypeg.ca) of the latest data on life in Winnipeg. This year’s report is being submitted to the United Nations as a “Voluntary Local Review” on progress toward the 17 Sustainable Development Goals that more than 190 countries agreed to reach by 2030. The report introduces our city to an international audience and updates Winnipeggers on the latest available data on our economy, commuting patterns, food bank use, health statistics, and other indicators. You can read the full report here. Call for Shelters Emergency Staffing Pool The Omicron surge has created staffing concerns for agencies across the sector this winter. As the cold season progresses, overnight shelters and safe spaces are regularly at capacity, yet continue to face a risk of being unable to stay open due to staffing shortages caused by staff illness and isolation.    To prevent a staffing emergency from impacting capacity at overnight shelters and safe spaces, partners are collaborating to recruit a team of staff, who have experience in the sector and would be able to take on additional hours or unpaid leave from current roles, to assist with direct service shelter and safe space operations in the case of a staffing emergency. The commitment required would be ten hours of training plus one or two full time weeks of work in the case of a staffing emergency. The intention is to pay participating staff at their regular wage, through a single organization (Siloam Mission) that would support recruitment, training, and deployment across all sites. As this is a new collaborative initiative in response to emerging concerns, some details are still being finalized. It is hoped that this pilot initiative can strengthen sector capacity and collaboration to proactively respond when facing future challenges.    Partners are asking both for organizational leaders to support staff who are interested to participate, and for individual staff to put their names forward for this team by emailing Tammy Henwood: tammy.henwood@siloam.ca with your name and contact information for further details. Miigwetch ~ Maarsii ~ Kinanâskomitin ~ Thank you!

End Homelessness Winnipeg Newsletter: January 2022 View this newsletter on Mailchimp Extreme Weather Resources A winter storm warning is in effect for Winnipeg, with blowing snow followed by very cold temperatures. If you venture outdoors in these conditions, please keep an eye out for others who may be at risk due to the cold. Know how to recognize and respond to signs of frostbite or hypothermia; and know how to access critical services like mobile outreach, shelters, safe spaces, drop-ins and meals. Download a poster showing signs and responses for frostbite and hypothermia here. Download, print and share the 2021-2022 Winter Resource Guide here. Download a plain language safety tip sheet for winter here. The Omicron surge has created staffing concerns for agencies across the sector, with some daytime mobile outreach teams and drop-in services having reduced hours. Calling ahead or checking with 211 may be advised. Two new pop-up warming spaces have opened for this cold snap, East of the Red: Elmwood – East Kildonan Active Living Centre has a daytime warming space at 180 Poplar, 9a-8p M-F; 12-4p Sa-Su until January 23, with free soup and coffee. Proof of vaccination is required to enter and people can call 204-669-0750 before coming to ensure capacity.  St Boniface Street Links is operating an overnight warming space at Holy Cross, 252 Dubuc, from 8p-8a for the duration of extreme weather, with coffee, soup and a sandwich provided for up to 20 people at a time and no sleeping options. In addition to these, and the services listed on the Winter Resource Guide, Sscope is continuing to offer emergency overnight stays at 865 Main, 7p-8a daily. New Board Chair End Homelessness Winnpeg’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce a new Chair. Samantha Brown is an Ojibwe kwe from Saugeen Ojibway Nation Territory in Ontario under Treaty 72, the Youth Hub Coordinator at Ka Ni Kanichihk, and has worked as the Housing Coordinator at Ndinawemaaganag Endaawaad Inc. She also worked as a System Navigator for Macdonald Youth Services (now The Link). She has extensive experience doing presentations and advocacy, has learned and practiced Aboriginal traditional methods of healing ceremonies, and has completed Mental Health First Aid Certification, Customer Service Training, Accessible Customer Service Standard Training, WHMIS, First Aid CPR C and AED Certification, Child Sexual Abuse Training, and Trauma Awareness Training. Please join us in welcoming Samantha! For more information on End Homelessness Winnipeg’s Board of Directors, click here.  CEO named to CAEH Board End Homelessness Winnipeg CEO Jason Whitford has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, which leads a national movement of individuals, organizations and communities working together to end homelessness in Canada. Jason joins four other new directors on the CAEH Board and is the only Manitoban on the Board, contributing local expertise to broader efforts for ending homelessness in Canada.  Miigwetch ~ Maarsii ~ Kinanâskomitin ~ Thank you!