Hundreds using emergency shelters leaves advocates calling for more housing solutions
Winnipeg shelters are seeing high demand as temperatures dip, leaving advocates calling for housing solutions to help with the issue.
Homes for Heroes Foundation is building a village of tiny homes in Transcona for veterans experiencing homelessness.
Since announcing the initiative in May, it said demand for housing has only grown.
"Rent increases and the demands on housing have never been more evident than they are now," said David Howard, the foundation's CEO and founder.
Siloam Mission is also a witness to the issue.
The organization said its 142 shelter beds are nearly full every night.
"The goal is never to have the emergency shelter be the solution for somebody or for it to be the long-term place to stay. That's why we call it an emergency shelter," said Luke Thiessen, communications manager at Siloam Mission
Theissen said while some people might only need an affordable place to live to get off the streets, many need extra resources.
"But for others, they need supportive housing. They need housing where they can bring in homecare or other supports they may need," explained Theissen.
He said more places like Siloam Mission's Madison House, a supportive housing facility with room for around 80, are needed in Winnipeg.
A call echoed by Main Street Project.
"I think it is around 600-700 people living in shelters any given night, so until we are building 600-700 transitional housing units, we aren't going to see a change in that number," said Jamil Mahmood, Main Street Project's executive director.
Even as non-profits like Homes for Heroes work toward addressing the issue, it's not always an easy task.
Home for Heroes Foundation said it took three years of planning to get the project started and is still facing the occasional paperwork challenge.
"It is frustrating," said Howard. "Our goal here is to help those who are on the street and our veterans who served our country. We want to do that as soon as possible."
Mayor Scott Gillingham told CTV News the city needs more housing of all sorts, especially affordable housing and safe accommodation for homeless people.
"I want to learn from innovative housing models used in other cities, like the modular units being built in Toronto, Vancouver and Surrey," he said in an email.
Gillingham said a motion coming later this week will start the process of identifying and pre-approving six city-owned sites for modular unit developments.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.