All Sections All Sections Winnipeg Free Press
Your Balance +tax Your Balance +tax

January 19, 2021

Winnipeg
-20° C, Partly cloudy

Full Forecast

Contact Us Subscribe Manage Subscription Chat with us
Log in Create Free Account Help Chat with us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertising Contact
    • Submit a News Tip
    • Subscribe to Newsletters

    • Finding your
      information

    • My Account
    • Manage my Subscription
    • Change Password

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate

    • Log Out
    • Log in
    • Create Free Account
    • Help

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate
  • Coronavirus Coverage
  • Replica E-Edition
    • About the E-Edition
    • Winnipeg Free Press
    • The Herald
    • The Headliner
    • The Lance
    • The Metro
    • The Sou'Wester
    • The Times
  • Above the Fold
  • Front page
  • Arts & Life
    • All Arts & Life
    • The Arts
    • Autos
    • Books
    • Book Club
    • Cannabis
    • Celebrities
    • Diversions
    • Puzzles
    • Environment
    • Events
    • Faith
    • Food & Drink
    • Your Health
    • Life & Style
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Science & Technology
    • TV
    • Travel
  • Business
    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Personal Finance
  • Canada
  • Local
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send a Letter to the Editor
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Amateur
    • Auto Racing
    • Blue Bombers
    • Curling
    • Football
    • Goldeyes
    • Golf
    • High School
    • Hockey
    • Horse Racing
    • Winnipeg Jets
    • Manitoba Moose
    • WHL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • Olympics
    • Soccer
  • World
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Advertising
    • Contact Us
    • Carrier Positions & Retailer Requests
    • FP Newspapers Inc.
    • History
    • Internships
    • Job Opportunities
    • News Café
    • Privacy Policy
    • Retail Locations
    • Staff Biographies
    • Terms and Conditions
  • Archives
  • Canstar Community News
    • All Canstar Community News
    • The Headliner
    • The Herald
    • The Lance
    • The Metro
    • The Sou'wester
    • The Times
    • Sports
    • Events
    • Contact Us
    • E-Editions
  • Classifieds
  • Contests
  • Coupons
    • All Coupons
    • Staples Copy & Print Coupons
    • Ripley's Aquariums Coupons
    • The Bay Coupons
    • Staples Canada Coupons
    • Altitude Sports Coupons
    • Nike Coupons
    • Tuango Coupons
    • Ebay Canada Coupons
    • Sport Chek Coupons
    • Roots Coupons
  • Sponsored
    • Publications
    • Sponsored Articles
  • Flyers
  • Homes
    • Property Listings
    • Featured News
    • Renovation and design
    • New homes
    • Resale homes
  • Newsletters
  • Obituaries
  • Puzzles
  • Photostore
  • More

©2021 FP Newspaper Inc.

Close
  • Quick Links

    • Coronavirus Coverage
    • Above the Fold
    • Home
    • Local
    • Canada
    • World
    • Classifieds
    • Special Coverage
    • Flyers
    • Newsletters
    • Obituaries
    • Photostore
    • Archives
    • Contests
    • Publications
    • Sponsored Content
    • Privacy Policy

    Ways to support us

    • Pay it Forward program
    • Subscribe
    • Day Pass
    • Read Now Pay later
  • Replica E-Edition

    • About the E-Edition
    • Winnipeg Free Press
    • The Herald
    • The Headliner
    • The Lance
    • The Metro
    • The Sou'Wester
    • The Times

    Business

    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Personal Finance
  • Arts & Life

    • All Arts & Life
    • The Arts
    • Autos
    • Books
    • Cannabis
    • Celebrities
    • Diversions
    • Puzzles
    • Environment
    • Events
    • Faith
    • Food & Drink
    • Your Health
    • Life & Style
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Science & Technology
    • TV
    • Travel
  • Sports

    • All Sports
    • Amateur
    • Auto Racing
    • Blue Bombers
    • Curling
    • Football
    • Goldeyes
    • Golf
    • High School
    • Hockey
    • Horse Racing
    • Winnipeg Jets
    • Manitoba Moose
    • WHL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • Olympics
    • Soccer
  • Opinion

    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send a Letter to the Editor

    Media

    • All Media
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos

    Homes

    • Property Listings
    • Featured News
    • Renovation and design
    • New homes
    • Resale homes
  • Canstar Community News

    • All Canstar Community News
    • The Headliner
    • The Herald
    • The Lance
    • The Metro
    • The Sou'wester
    • The Times
    • Sports
    • Events
    • Contact Us
    • E-Editions
  • Coupons

    • All Coupons
    • Staples Copy & Print Coupons
    • Ripley's Aquariums Coupons
    • The Bay Coupons
    • Staples Canada Coupons
    • Altitude Sports Coupons
    • Nike Coupons
    • Tuango Coupons
    • Ebay Canada Coupons
    • Sport Chek Coupons
    • Roots Coupons
  • About Us

    • About Us
    • Advertising
    • Contact Us
    • Carrier Positions & Retailer Requests
    • FP Newspapers Inc.
    • History
    • Internships
    • Job Opportunities
    • News Café
    • Privacy Policy
    • Retail Locations
    • Staff Biographies
    • Terms and Conditions
Canstar Community News
  • The Herald
  • The Lance
  • The Sou'wester
  • The Metro
  • The Times
  • The Headliner
  • Sports
  • Correspondents
  • Columns
  • Contact Us
  • Publications
  • Building Unity: Our Community Centres

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

When the struggle to make rent is real

Susan Huebert By: Susan Huebert
Posted: 08/7/2019 1:56 PM

  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Print
  • Email

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 7/8/2019 (531 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The day rent is due can be stressful for many low-income people across Manitoba, but help from the Rent Assist program can make life much easier. 
Given recent changes to the program, a public forum called Making Space for Change: The Story of Manitoba’s Rent Assist Benefit on July 16 at Crossways in Common was a good opportunity to assess both the progress and retreat of financial help for Manitobans in need.
The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, the Right to Housing Coalition, Make Poverty History and the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg were all involved in the event, which featured four speakers from the participating organizations. 
Josh Brandon and Jesse Hajer spoke of the social conditions that led to the idea of the Rent Assist program and what has changed since then.  
Kirsten Bernas of the Right to Housing Coalition spoke of the importance of activism, while Christina Maes-Nino finished the presentation with a brief speech. Together, the speakers related a story of a necessary and helpful program currently in jeopardy with growing restrictions on eligibility.
According to Josh Brandon, Rent Assist "was a major landmark achievement for anti-poverty advocates in this province."
The idea behind the program was to allow low-income people to be able to afford housing in the city so that they would still have money left over for other necessities such as food and clothes. Funding from Rent Assist was set at 75 per cent of the median market rent to allow people flexibility in looking for suitable housing.
Over time, advocates of the Rent Assist program won victories that allowed participants to continue to pay for housing, even with inflation taking a larger portion of their income. 
"In theory, you should see these increases over time keeping pace with the cost of living," Hajer said. Yet even these basic ideas have been under attack, with the current government introducing more and more restrictions.  
Kirsten Bernas of the Right to Housing Coalition said, "It often takes a lot of time and persistence" to prompt positive action. 
"Now more than ever we need people involved in the work and to push back against the changes."
With many low-income people living in West Broadway, holding the forum at Crossways in Common was especially appropriate. Whatever happens to the Rent Assist program will affect many of the neighbourhood’s residents now and in the future.
Susan Huebert is a community correspondent for West Broadway. 

The day rent is due can be stressful for many low-income people across Manitoba, but help from the Rent Assist program can make life much easier. 

Jesse Hajer (left), a research associate with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and Josh Brandon, of the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg, spoke at a recent forum on the provincial Rent Assist program.

SUSAN HUEBERT

Jesse Hajer (left), a research associate with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and Josh Brandon, of the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg, spoke at a recent forum on the provincial Rent Assist program.

Given recent changes to the program, a public forum called Making Space for Change: The Story of Manitoba’s Rent Assist Benefit on July 16 at Crossways in Common was a good opportunity to assess both the progress and retreat of financial help for Manitobans in need.

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, the Right to Housing Coalition, Make Poverty History and the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg were all involved in the event, which featured four speakers from the participating organizations. 

Josh Brandon and Jesse Hajer spoke of the social conditions that led to the idea of the Rent Assist program and what has changed since then. Kirsten Bernas of the Right to Housing Coalition spoke of the importance of activism, while Christina Maes-Nino finished the presentation with a brief speech.

Together, the speakers related a story of a necessary and helpful program currently in jeopardy with growing restrictions on eligibility.

According to Brandon, Rent Assist "was a major landmark achievement for anti-poverty advocates in this province."

Stay informed

The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19.

Subscribe to COVID-19 Briefing
Sign Up

The idea behind the program was to allow low-income people to be able to afford housing in the city so that they would still have money left over for other necessities such as food and clothes. Funding from Rent Assist was set at 75 per cent of the median market rent to allow people flexibility in looking for suitable housing.

Over time, advocates of the Rent Assist program won victories that allowed participants to continue to pay for housing, even with inflation taking a larger portion of their income.

"In theory, you should see these increases over time keeping pace with the cost of living," Hajer said. Yet even these basic ideas have been under attack, with the current government introducing more and more restrictions.  Kirsten Bernas of the Right to Housing Coalition said,"It often takes a lot of time and persistence" to prompt positive action. 

"Now more than ever we need people involved in the work and to push back against the changes."

With many low-income people living in West Broadway, holding the forum at Crossways in Common was especially appropriate. Whatever happens to the Rent Assist program will affect many of the neighbourhood’s residents now and in the future.

— Susan Huebert is a community correspondent for West Broadway. 

Susan Huebert

Susan Huebert
Elmwood community correspondent

Susan Huebert is a community correspondent for Elmwood

   Read full biography

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

  • Report Error
  • Submit a Tip
  • Refund

The Winnipeg Free Press invites you to share your opinion on this story in a letter to the editor. A selection of letters to the editor are published daily.

To submit a letter:
• fill out the form on this page, or
• email letters@freepress.mb.ca, or
• mail Letters to the Editor, 1355 Mountain Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2X 3B6.

Letters must include the writer’s full name, address, and a daytime phone number. Letters are edited for length and clarity.

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

Top