Overview

Naatamooskakowin: Winnipeg's Coordinated Access System

Naatamooskakowin is an Indigenous led and community-created Coordinated Access system. It was designed to ensure individuals and families experiencing chronic homelessness can access referrals to Housing First programming at the right time, through clear, equitable, and culturally safe processes.

Coordinated Access means there is a shared way for people experiencing homelessness to be connected to housing supports. Instead of each person having to tell their story many times at different agencies, Coordinated Access helps partners work from the same process, use shared information, and make referrals based on need. The goal is to help people get connected to the right housing support more quickly and fairly.

Naatamooskakowin is the name for Winnipeg's Coordinated Access system. A naming ceremony was held in the summer of 2022 and Elder Belinda Vanderbroeck was given the name Naatamooskakowin. This Cree word means "a place to go for help, shelter, and resources." Since 2023, 150 people have been housed through Naatamooskakowin.

Under Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy, End Homelessness Winnipeg serves as the Community Entity (CE), responsible for co-developing a Coordinated Access system in collaboration with community partners.