Mayor Colleen Smook is part of a delegation in Houston, Texas to learn about that community’s successful strategy to address homelessness.
Also from Thompson are Andrea Hatley, the Reaching Home homelessness funding co-ordinator and Kelvin Lynxleg, Executive Director of MKO North.
Housing, Addictions and Homelessness Minister Bernadette Smith is leading the delegation.
It also includes community representatives from Brandon and Winnipeg, Metis and Indigenous-led organizations from Manitoba, and community organizations like the Main Street Project.
Delegates will learn about Houston’s collaborative homeless response, visit the Coalition for the Homeless’ Housing Navigation Center and meet with community organizations working on the ground.
Houston’s approach to ending homelessness has reduced numbers in the city by more than 60 percent and moved over 32 thousand people off the streets and into homes.
Smith said the Manitoba government is committed to ending chronic homelessness in two terms. She acknowledged Houston’s significant success in reducing homelessness and feels the Manitoba delegation will learn from them.
The delegation builds on Budget 2024’s investment of over $116 million for the construction and upkeep of social and affordable housing. As part of this funding, the Manitoba government is building 350 new units of social and affordable housing and renovating and repairing another 3,000 units.
