Occupants of small home in Winnipeg neighbourhood worry eviction looming
A small home creating a big stir in a St. James neighbourhood is a snapshot of a much larger crisis in the community, according to a Winnipeg advocate for unsheltered people.
The building is located on a piece of property just south of the airport in between a park and a community garden.
It’s the kind of setting some may find peaceful and relaxing to live in but the occupants worry they’ll soon be forced out.
The tiny home is tucked in behind trees and the occupants said it’s been in the location for about a month after someone donated it.
It’s unclear exactly who or where the home came from or how it ended up in its present location but some area residents aren’t happy about it.
“And I’d like to see it gone, personally,” said Joseph Williamson, who lives nearby.
He said the home was brought in using a flatbed truck.
Scott Gillingham, the area’s city councillor who’s now running for mayor, said he’s been made aware of the issue and has asked city staff to get involved.
“We want to make sure that we’re not shuffling people from one location to another, that they get the help they need,” said Gillingham, who visited the site after residents contacted him. “But on the other hand, this is not an appropriate location for a home without permission to be dropped off and for someone to be living here.”
According to Gillingham, city staff have reached out to make sure the occupants can get access to both the city and social services they need and to get the home out of the location.
As for the people who live in the home, they didn’t want to appear on camera but one man who identified himself as one of two occupants told CTV News they’ve been living in it for about a month. He said he’s from Amaranth, Man. and has been recovering from a serious assault after someone hit him with a baseball bat. He used to have an apartment but not anymore.
Jason Whitford, president and CEO of End Homelessness Winnipeg, said the situation is another sign Winnipeg has a housing crisis.
“People are telling us what we need to do,” Whitford said, referring to where unsheltered people are finding places to live. “We need to create housing in different parts of the city.”
The home isn’t equipped with any electricity, running water or insulation.
Whitford said while it may not be perfect, if the residents are forced to leave, they could end up worse off.
He said if people have donations of permanent shelters for unhoused people, there needs to be a better way of harnessing that generosity in a more constructive way.
“We need to come up with various models,” Whitford said, noting similar homes are being used to address the housing crisis in First Nations communities.
“They need to be welcome in communities not looked at with judgement and with blame or even the feeling that they don’t belong.”
Winnipeg police were called about concerns in the area that individuals were illegally residing on someone’s property but the owner did not want any legal action taken.
As for the city, it said it can’t comment on inspections or enforcement due to privacy concerns.
Williamson doesn’t think the home is the answer to the housing crisis.
“There’s a lot of people walking around at night,” he said. “There’s been arguments, fights here at night.”
The man who lives in the home said not many people in the community have tried to get to know him.
He said he’s been visited by police, firefighters and social services staff who have reached out to help him but he fears it’ll only be a matter of time before he has to leave.
It remains unclear if or when that’ll happen.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.