A bridge, not a destination

Daniel McIntyre

This past month, I had the opportunity to travel to Halifax to see first-hand how other Canadian cities are responding to the growing challenge of homelessness. Like Winnipeg, Halifax has struggled with rising housing costs, increasing mental health and addiction crises, and too many people being forced to live outdoors.

What stood out most to me was how the city has found ways to bring compassion and dignity into the lives of people who are unhoused.

We can and must learn from Halifax to build our own made-in-Winnipeg model. We know the number of people living unsheltered continues to grow, and that housing those struggling with trauma, mental health, and addictions requires more than simply providing a roof.

Imagine a designated, managed encampment site in Winnipeg — one with on-site management and a focus on helping people move indoors by connecting them to income support, addiction recovery programs, and mental health services. A place where people can begin to heal from trauma and break the cycle of being unhoused, all while having a clear time-frame and plan to transition into stable housing.

In Halifax, I visited a designated encampment site where the city provides washrooms, garbage collection, and winter snow removal. While Halifax’s model is not yet fully managed, it inspired me to see how Manitoba could take the next step to create a managed and supported site operated by community organizations with lived experience. This would serve as a bridge, not a destination, on the journey from the street to stable housing, aligning with Manitoba’s Our Way Home strategy.

Unlike unmanaged encampments, a managed site would be staffed, secure, and connected to essential services. Residents would have access not only to necessities but also to outreach workers, housing navigators, and health professionals who meet them where they are. This approach begins with safety and dignity the foundation needed before addressing the deeper issues of trauma, addiction, and mental health that often lead to homelessness.

Instead of being just another name on a housing list, individuals would start building connections right away receiving triage support, recovery assistance, and help finding housing and programs that fit their needs. That’s how we move people from survival to stability.

This model only works when the city and province share responsibility and resources. The municipality can provide the land and coordinate services, while the province funds the wraparound supports, such as addiction treatment, case management, and housing programs. No one level of government can solve homelessness alone it takes partnership and a shared belief that everyone deserves a safe place to call home.

In Winnipeg, we’ve allowed this crisis to persist, instead of addressing the root causes trauma, addiction, and disconnection. It’s time to change that. A managed encampment site, done right, isn’t about accepting homelessness, it’s about ending it compassionately and responsibly. It’s a bridge to housing, a place of safety and dignity, and a first step toward rebuilding lives. With collaboration and courage, Winnipeg and Manitoba can lead the way forward.