FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 11, 2025
Winnipeg, MB – End Homelessness Winnipeg (EHW) commends the City of Winnipeg’s Housing Accelerator Fund Capital Grant Incentive Program for its substantial investment in tackling the city’s housing crisis. The program’s $50 million investment, which distributes money from the federal Housing Accelerator Fund, is set to create 2,553 new housing units, with 1,230 designated as affordable housing—a crucial step toward addressing homelessness and housing instability.
Winnipeg faces a growing housing crisis. According to the 2023 Community Housing Needs Assessment for Manitoba 34,425 households are in core housing need, with nearly a quarter of renters struggling with affordability. The 2022 Winnipeg Street Census report found that over 1,200 people experience homelessness every night in Winnipeg. The direct investment by the City of Winnipeg toward affordable housing, particularly in the downtown core, bolsters the housing continuum and provides crucial support to individuals and families at risk.
“The City of Winnipeg’s Housing Accelerator Fund is an important step in addressing our housing crisis because it increases the supply of affordable homes. This investment will help support individuals and families at risk of homelessness,” said Jason Whitford, CEO of End Homelessness Winnipeg.
While the investment is a critical step forward, Whitford emphasized that more work is needed to ensure housing accessibility and affordability for all. “There’s still a lot of work to do to close the gaps and make housing more accessible and affordable. We will keep working and engaging with the City. We will keep engaging with the Province, the business community, and our sector and Indigenous partners to ensure these investments continue to create lasting housing solutions for the people who need them most.”
In addition to expanding the supply of affordable housing, a long-term commitment to policy improvements, increased funding, reviewed rental subsidies, and wraparound support services is essential to creating meaningful change for individuals and families in need of housing stability. End Homelessness Winnipeg will continue to advocate for collaborative solutions that address both immediate housing needs and the root causes of homelessness, ensuring that more people can access and maintain safe, stable housing.
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For more information, please contact:
Oraye St. Franklyn,
Manager, Communications and Community Relations,
End Homelessness Winnipeg
Cell: 431-323-8896
ofranklyn@endhomelessnesswinnipeg.ca