Carney says Canada learned from past mistakes as plan targets ending homelessness within 10 years

The Story

Prime Minister Mark Carney said the federal government has learned from past mistakes as it sets out a goal of eliminating homelessness within 10 years.

Speaking at a press conference in Winnipeg on Friday, Carney said governments and communities have often responded to homelessness in ways that were “inadequately resourced, poorly co-ordinated and not sustained,” adding that the federal approach is meant to address those gaps.

Carney said Manitoba was his first stop after the federal budget was released on Thursday because a plan is already in place. He said the government of Canada, the province of Manitoba, the City of Winnipeg and private philanthropy have been working together to develop a comprehensive plan.

Under the federal budget, the government estimated that about 65,000 Canadians are homeless, while critics have argued the number could be higher.

The federal government said its approach includes building enough affordable housing as well as supporting vulnerable people and providing health supports to help people leave homelessness long-term.

Carney’s government announced $11.2 billion to tackle homelessness over four years starting next year, and $17.8 billion over 10 years. The partnerships would see Ottawa fund construction costs, with provinces and other partners covering operations.

Winnipeg gets some of that money first, with at least $1 billion in new funding directed toward 2,000 new housing units and the construction of a Centre for Mental Health and Addictions.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said the federal funding is a “huge, humungous deal” for the province, describing it as an investment that some people had called generational.

As part of the agreement, Manitoba is committing $84 million a year to support what Ottawa has committed to build, and Kinew said the province has not chosen a location yet for the health-care campus while he plans to push for it to be completed within the three-year timeline Carney set.

Kinew said he expects to “get it done right” and “get it done quick,” and he linked the shorter-term momentum to increased coordination across governments, including Indigenous leaders and other partners.

Kinew said it is the first time in the country’s history, as he characterized it, where “every level of government has come together” to tackle homelessness, including First Nations and Métis governments.

The event took place 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 organization’s grand chief, said he was not sure what new housing funding will flow to the organization, but called the announcement welcome, saying it is “good for the people of Winnipeg” and that the city’s residents living on the street have hope for support addressing addictions and mental health challenges.

Jennifer Moore Rattray, CEO of End Homelessness Winnipeg, said she was excited by the investment, saying Winnipeg, Manitoba and Canada have an opportunity “to actually end homelessness,” and that while organizations have coordinated well, they had not previously had enough funding.

Rattray said, “We know what works in community. We have been doing it for years,” and that the difference now is “Now we actually have the investment.”