The Manitoba government says it’s taking steps to end chronic homelessness and making it more affordable for all Manitobans to rent or own a home.
Housing, Addictions and Homelessness Minister Bernadette Smith announced Thursday, “Our government’s approach to housing will help Manitoba families and have a focus on those who need it most. Our first budget will fund 350 new units of social and affordable housing and support 3,000 more. This is a historic investment that will help more Manitobans have a place to call home and builds on the work already underway.”
Budget 2024 invests over $116 million for the construction and upkeep of social and affordable housing initiatives. As part of this funding, the Manitoba government will build 350 new units of social and affordable housing, and help renovate and repair 3,000 units in order to keep them available to Manitobans who need them.
In addition to the 350 new units included in Budget 2024, the Manitoba government is proud to have supported several projects over the last six months to address needs in our communities, including Market Lands, noted the minister. The Manitoba government is providing capital funding in the form of a forgivable loan of up to $1.8 million towards the construction of Market Lands. In addition to the capital funding, the Manitoba government will provide rent supplement funding so that 48 of the 95 units will be rented on a rent-geared-to-income basis. Market Lands is being developed by Market Land Inc., a partnership between Centre Venture and the University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation 2.0.
“Our government took action right away to help make more housing available for those who need it most, and we are continuing to support important projects like the Market Lands to add more units of housing across the province,” said Smith. “We are going to continue building on this work in the years to come.”
Budget 2024 will create more units of social and affordable housing in one year than the previous government did in its first four years, noted the minister.
The Manitoba government is taking steps to support more housing across the spectrum including:
-emergency housing and wraparound supports to get people off the streets and out of tents;
-social housing, including rent geared to income units that help ensure people are housed longer term;
-steps to increase the amount of affordable housing and keep rents lower for middle-income families; and
-making it easier for middle-income families to afford a home in Manitoba.
