With this new housing initiative by Winnipeg Supportive Housing Inc., in partnership with Riverwood Church Community, plans to construct a 40-unit housing complex that takes aim at poverty by developing supportive and safe housing for 40 of Winnipeg’s at-risk population in the emerging neighborhood of Elmwood.
Participants will have the opportunity to experience a community environment with peer based supports while gaining access to professional services and relational supports provided by on-site staff, partnering organizations and volunteers.
Winnipeg has an estimated 1,500 people who are homeless because of mental illness, addiction, PTSD, family issues and other issues. Many seek respite in shelters, ventilation grates or cardboard shacks under a bridge. When an individual seeking support completes a recovery program, they are often placed back into high-risk situations and struggle to achieve stability in their recovery over the long-term.
Safe, supportive housing is a critical tool in overcoming these obstacles and personal success remains elusive without safety and stability. This project aims to empower individuals to make healthy lifestyle choices, develop community, establish and realize goals, and develop their skills to become both stable and independent.
Forty self-contained studio suites of 225 to 350 square feet, with shared spaces for programming and peer-support, are designed to enable participants to establish a sense of control in areas that most people take for granted. With ample access to natural light, small kitchenettes in each unit, with an option to prepare and eat meals in common areas, and carefully considered privacy measures, the project seeks to allow participants to make homes for themselves within the context of a safe and supportive community.
A site has been purchased on the corner of Talbot Ave and Stadacona St. in Elmwood. Public funding is secured, and construction is scheduled to begin in August, 2020.