Your Way Home has moved 40 people from encampments into housing: Kinew

More than three dozen former occupants of outdoor encampments have been successfully moved into housing since a plan to end chronic homelessness was launched in January, Premier Wab Kinew said Wednesday.

Kinew, answering a question in the legislature directed to Housing, Addictions and Homelessness Minister Bernadette Smith, said 40 people have been relocated so far.

Progressive Conservative MLA Kathleen Cook had suggested the number was just 33, and wanted to know how many encampments that had been cleared are now being re-occupied.

Kinew said 37 of the 40 were moved into housing by Main Street Project.

Last week, the Point Douglas Residents’ Committee wrote a letter to the non-profit organization looking for answers after one of its vans and staff were recorded delivering tents and suitcases to a previously cleared riverbank site.

The province’s Your Way Home strategy calls for housing people with needed supports, clearing encampment sites and then ensuring that they’re not reoccupied.

On Monday, Smith said she has directed service providers to help people move out of encampments, not into them.

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At an unrelated press conference Wednesday morning, the premier was asked if he had an explanation or understanding of why Main Street Project was delivering tents and suitcases to an encampment.

“Yeah, I do. And I think we’ll have more to share,” he said.