Manitoba’s homeless plan may face legal challenge: advocate

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An advocate for Winnipeg’s homeless said “legal options,” are being considered because he believes the province’s recently announced homelessness strategy may constitute an infringement of human rights.

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“We are in the process of setting up a human rights legal team to work on behalf of the encampment residents who have all the same rights as you and I do,” long-time Winnipeg-based advocate said Al Wiebe said in a social media post.

Wiebe added in his post, “Others across the country are planning suits against the province as we speak. If human rights are not observed who are we as a province?”

Earlier this month, the NDP government announced plans for what they are calling the Your Way Home strategy, which will look to end chronic homelessness and end the use of homeless encampments in Winnipeg.

The province said they will work with the City of Winnipeg on a 30-day timeline that will move “one encampment at a time” into housing, including 300 new social units that have been purchased and will be supported by non-profit organizations.

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The province also promised encampments will only be decommissioned and cleared when move-in ready housing is secured for every person. Those spaces will then be monitored to ensure the space remains cleared and no new encampments pop up.

While speaking on Thursday, Wiebe said he believes the plan is flawed and will ultimately fail if it relies on voluntary departures as some won’t want to leave because they may be dealing with severe addictions or mental health issues.

Wiebe asked if force will be used if some don’t want to leave and said that is why legal options are being considered.

“So on day one, when they try to evict a camp and six out of 10 refuse to leave, what will they do?” Wiebe asked. “Are they going to say, ‘OK you can stay,’ throwing the entire strategy away, or call in the police and forcibly remove them?

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“We should not have to protect the camps from the city or province, but that is where we are at.”

When announcing the plan, the province said along with an initial $20 million investment, there will be additional wraparound support and flexible funding for people who are experiencing incidental homelessness to help ensure a “successful transition into housing.”

Minister of Housing, Addictions and Homelessness, Bernadette Smith said the province continues to have confidence in the strategy, and said it shows their “commitment to ending chronic homelessness by 2031.”

“We know Manitobans believe folks living in tents and encampments deserve a safe, warm, and secure home, and that’s why our plan will help make housing the most attractive option for those in encampments,” Smith said in an email.

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“Wraparound supports will be offered and customized to each person’s individual needs. This is the first time in the history of our province where all levels of government, first responders, and front-line organizations have collaborated on a strategic pathway to housing with wraparound support for those living in encampments.”

Smith added, “our government knows everyone deserves a home, and our government is taking action so our fellows Manitobans are safely housed.”

— Dave Baxter is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Winnipeg Sun. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.

Have thoughts on what’s going on in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada or across the world? Send us a letter to the editor at wpgsun.letters@kleinmedia.ca

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