Canadian Museum for Human Rights hosts symposium on homelessness and poverty
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights served as the backdrop for a symposium on homelessness and poverty Monday.
Not-for-profit organizations, elected officials, and those who have experienced homelessness first-hand, came together to discuss the root causes of homelessness and how to tackle the crisis.
“These are people coming together with a variety of different perspectives,” organizer Al Wiebe told CTV News.
Wiebe spent nearly two-and-a-half years living on the street after he lost his job. Now, he serves as an advocate for unsheltered people.
“Every story is different, but the same, because it goes to the barriers to get helping,” Wiebe explained.
Main Street Project’s Jamil Mahmood estimates there are around 4,000 unsheltered people living in Winnipeg right now, and said those numbers fluctuate based on the time of year.
“So, we’re coming to the warmer seasons with obviously more folks out on the street or experiencing homelessness,” Mahmood said. “It’s a pretty big problem and a challenge that we have to face here.”
Around 100 people attending the symposium heard about the right to housing, food security, and healthcare. They also participated in round-table discussions to share ideas on how to solve issues surrounding homelessness.
Wiebe said most conversations centered on building affordable housing units and providing social support.
“Giving them what they need – not only to survive in housing, but to thrive in housing,” Wiebe said.
City councillor Markus Chambers, who chairs Winnipeg’s human rights committee, helped Wiebe put on the event. He said it is critical for all levels of government to collaborate with people working in social services.
“They know first-hand what the city needs to address the issue of homelessness,” Chambers explained. “We’re hoping as a city to take away some of the comments they’re making.”
Earlier this month, the Manitoba government announced a $30 million plan to help address homelessness; primarily through increasing the province’s affordable housing supply.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
As Canada warms, infectious disease risks spread north
Cases of Lyme disease have now increased more than 1,000 per cent in a decade as the warming climate pushes the boundaries of a range of pathogens and risk factors northward.
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
Custom baseball card released of Blue Jays fan struck in the face with foul ball
Liz McGuire, the Blue Jays fan who was struck in the face with a 110 m.p.h. foul ball last week, has been pictured on a custom baseball trading card applauding her fandom to the game.
Grayson Murray, two-time PGA Tour winner, dead at 30
Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
The dreams of a 60-year-old beauty contestant come to an abrupt end in Argentina
A 60-year-old woman saw her dreams of becoming the oldest Miss Universe contestant in history melt away in a haze of sequins and selfies Saturday at Argentina’s annual beauty pageant.
Pro-Palestinian protesters expected to meet with U of T administration
Pro-Palestinian protesters who have set up an encampment on the University of Toronto campus are expected to meet with school officials today.
Are you a loud snorer? You could have sleep apnea
You'll have a lot more energy throughout the day if you get a good night's sleep, but not everyone does due to a medical condition.
Beer Store planning to 'thrive and adapt' as Ontario announces changes to alcohol sales starting this summer
The Beer Store says it is looking forward to the next stage in its “evolution” as the province rolls out an accelerated timeline for expanding retail alcohol sales in Ontario.