This Spring, we’re excited to announce the opening of a new housing project – a major milestone in our ambitious goal: to create 700-1,000 social housing units over the next decade! It’s all part of our Sheltering the Spirit housing strategy to provide homes for people experiencing homelessness.
Last year, Siloam Mission announced its Sheltering the Spirit housing strategy, with an ambitious goal: to help create 700 to 1,000 social housing units over the next decade for people experiencing homelessness.
A Winnipeg without chronic homelessness is only possible with available, affordable, and appropriate social housing. But, right now, Winnipeg is critically short – with only 3 social housing units for every 20 people in need.
The first step in our strategy was a 32-unit building in Charleswood last year. These units became home to many older adults moving from Siloam’s shelter, some of whom hadn’t had a place of their own in years. It has been deeply moving to see how warmly the community has welcomed the new residents. This past Christmas, the neighbouring condo association even organized gifts for every single person in the building – a beautiful gesture of kindness and inclusion.
Today, we’re excited to share that 41 more units of supportive housing have been brought online this Spring in the West End. This new project is part of the Province’s encampment response plan.
“This project is a meaningful step toward our vision of a Winnipeg without chronic homelessness. It’s part of a bigger picture — a coordinated effort to meet people where they are, offer support, and walk alongside them as they move toward stability,” said Julianne Aitken, Interim CEO of Siloam Mission.
We’re proud to be working alongside Main Street Project on this initiative. Their team brings deep experience in outreach and in working with individuals who have experienced long-term homelessness.
“We are very excited to be partnering with Siloam Mission for this new housing project,” said Jamil Mahmood, Executive Director of Main Street Project.
“It is good to work alongside other organizations that have been doing this work for a long time and who understand the challenges in housing individuals with complex needs – and how to support them in successfully maintaining housing.”
From our experience, we’ve learned that housing with wraparound services, strong relationships, and community connections is vital in helping people who have experienced long-term homelessness stay successfully housed. It’s housing first – not housing only.
While we continue our work of advocacy to reduce the inflow into homelessness, the need is still growing. More than 2,000 people used our Winter Overnight Warming Space this past winter – a powerful reminder of just how urgent this crisis is.
But thanks to your support, and in partnership with others who care deeply, we are making real progress – bringing the vision of a Winnipeg without chronic homelessness closer to reality every day.
Note: In the printed version, we mentioned 24 units, but we have converted each two-bedroom unit into two single-room units. This change allows us to welcome and support more people in having a safe and stable place to call home.
