Safe, affordable, well-kept housing is the first step to gaining employment, food and security, access to social services, education, recreation, and health care.
The experience of homelessness often occurs at transition points in people’s lives – being released from institutions, aging out of care, family breakdown (Source: End Homelessness Winnipeg) – and our social safety net is not always coordinated to aid in those transitions.
Mental health is both a health issue and a social issue. Social conditions have an impact on mental health. Maintaining connections and accessing services when needed is vital in supporting mental health wellbeing.
How are we doing?
Source: End Homelessness Winnipeg
End Homelessness Winnipeg counted over 1,250 persons experiencing homelessness in the 2022 Street Census – but researchers estimate that for every one person experiencing absolute homelessness, there are three people experiencing hidden homelessness.
When we talk about homelessness, we also must talk about the availability of and access to housing. Affordable housing is a challenge across the country, and the need is at a crisis point in Winnipeg.
How are we doing?
Source: Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation Rental Market Survey and End Homelessness Winnipeg Street Census (The organization’s intention is to do a street census every second year. It was delayed to 2021 because of the pandemic.)
In Winnipeg, for every 20 low-income renters, there are three available units, compared to Regina where there are eight units available and Calgary where there are nine units available for every 20 low-income renters.
