The Salvation Army has added 80 beds to its emergency shelter in Winnipeg, citing an increase in foreign nationals seeking asylum in Manitoba.
The Centre of Hope added 60 beds to address the growing need in October, but the number of beds occupied by newcomers continues to grow.
A news release Wednesday cited information from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada saying the number of asylum seekers processed in Manitoba in January 2024 is more than quadruple the number in January 2023.
People cluster around the entrance to the Salvation Army’s Booth Centre at 180 Henry St. (Phil Hossack / Free Press files)
The shelter at 180 Henry Ave. houses more than 400 people on an average night. About 120 of those people are asylum seekers, the Salvation Army said.
“We have created additional space for the second time in six months to address the increase in people accessing our emergency shelter services,” Mark Stewart, the centre’s executive director said in the news release.
“Our goal is to alleviate the pressure on emergency shelters so that we can continue to serve the community and have beds available whenever they are needed.”
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