Announced as part of the National Housing Strategy, the Canada-Manitoba Housing Benefit (CMHB) is providing $154.6 million in housing benefits to support over 17,000 vulnerable Manitobans. The cost-shared program was co-developed by the federal and provincial governments through the Canada Housing Benefit initiative, federal Housing and Diversity and Inclusion Minister Ahmed Hussen and Manitoba Families Minister Rochelle Squires announced Tuesday (May 9).
In a media release, Hussen said “Through the Canada-Manitoba Housing Benefit, our government is providing financial support to low-income Manitobans who are in need of a safe, affordable place to call home. The changes announced today will improve the program and provide more substantial supports to those who have accessed these benefits. This is another example of the National Housing Strategy at work to provide results for Canadians.”
The CMHB provides financial assistance to eligible renters who need help paying for housing costs, including youth transitioning out of the care of Child and Family Services, people who are at risk of homelessness or who are homeless and people living with mental health and addiction issues in designated supportive housing buildings.
“Access to stable housing improves the lives and health of Manitobans and the whole-of-government Manitoba homelessness strategy recognizes the importance of retaining housing for those at risk,” said Squires. “Through the CMHB, we will continue to support the housing needs of vulnerable Manitobans, including those at risk of and experiencing homelessness, and provide affordability support that meets the needs of low-income renters.”
The ministers noted the Manitoba government will provide a one-time payment of $350 to all recipients of non-EIA Rent Assist in July 2023 through CMHB funding, and is making a number of other important changes to the program to enhance the benefit for those who need it, including:
– increasing the benefit amount to a maximum of $350 per month for all recipients of the CMHB from $250 per month, retroactive to April 1, 2023;
– providing an additional $72 on top of the maximum benefit for anyone paying a cold rent (rent that does not include utilities), retroactive to April 1, 2023;
– removing the two-year time limit of the benefit for youth transitioning out of care and people living with mental health and addiction issues once they transition from designated supportive housing buildings into the private market (there is no time limit on the benefit for those at risk of homelessness or who are homeless); and
– raising the age of CMHB eligibility for youth transitioning out of care to 26.
It is anticipated that these changes will be implemented to the program starting July 1, 2023, the ministers noted.
For more information about the CMHB, visit https://gov.mb.ca/housing/progs/cmhb/index.html
