Carney pledges to end homelessness within 10 years, citing co-ordination and $11.2B over four years

The Story

Prime Minister Mark Carney said the federal government is aiming to eliminate homelessness within 10 years and described its approach as an effort to avoid past mistakes involving inadequate resourcing, poor co-ordination and lack of sustained action.

Carney made the remarks at a press conference Friday in Winnipeg after releasing the federal budget the previous day.

He said he chose Winnipeg as his first stop after the budget release because there is already a plan in place involving the government of Canada, the province of Manitoba, the City of Winnipeg and private philanthropy.

Carney said the federal government’s strategy includes building enough affordable housing and also providing supports for vulnerable people, including health supports intended to help people escape homelessness long-term.

The budget estimated that about 65,000 Canadians are homeless, while critics say that figure could be higher.

Carney said the federal budget provides $11.2 billion to tackle homelessness over four years starting next year, and $17.8 billion over 10 years. He said the federal government would cover construction costs through the partnerships, while provinces and other partners would cover operations.

In Winnipeg, the budget includes at least $1 billion in new money directed toward 2,000 new housing units and construction of a Centre for Mental Health and Addictions.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew called the federal funding a “huge, humungous deal,” and said Manitoba would commit $84 million a year to support what Ottawa has committed to build.

Kinew said the province has not chosen a location for the health-care campus, but he said he will push for it to be done within the three-year goal Carney set.

Kinew said the federal push to move quickly is supported by “unprecedented co-ordination” across levels of government, including Indigenous leaders and other partners, and he described it as “the first time in our country’s history where every level of government has come together to tackle homelessness, including First Nations and Métis governments.”

The event was held under the latticework of rafters at Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn, described as the former Hudson Bay store being transformed into an Indigenous hub of housing and other services by the Southern Chiefs’ Organization.

Jerry Daniels, the Southern Chiefs’ Organization grand chief, said he was not sure what new housing funding would come from the announcement but called it welcome, saying, “I think it’s good for the people of Winnipeg.”

Jennifer Moore Rattray, CEO of End Homelessness Winnipeg, said she was excited by the investments, adding that there is “a real opportunity” in Winnipeg, Manitoba and Canada to end homelessness. She said community organizations “have been doing it for years” and that what they had not had before was enough funding, concluding, “Now we actually have the investment.”