Low-income Manitobans let down as government temporarily yanks rent top-up, housing advocates say
CBC
The Manitoba government has withdrawn the financial support that 400 people at risk of homelessness had counted on to pay their rent, a surprise move that came as a disappointment to advocates and people in search of affordable housing.
The province put what it says is a "temporary pause" on new applications to the youth and homelessness streams of the Canada-Manitoba Housing Benefit, owing to "unprecedented demand," according to a letter issued to some community organizations.
The benefit provided rent top-ups of up to $422 a month, a Tuesday news release from housing advocates said.
They say they were told the province received around 400 applications since the government stopped processing requests on Aug. 2. The stop was only communicated to the organizations on Aug. 30.
Codi Guenther, the executive director of New Journey Housing, said the letter from the province was a shock to her and, especially, the people her organization tries to help — newcomers trying to find housing.
"They're devastated. They're shocked. They didn't think this would happen," she said.
"We have told them about this benefit throughout the summer. We're like, 'Keep this in mind when you're looking for housing' — and now it's not there."
The pause only affects individuals looking to start receiving the benefit, not people who were already enrolled in the program, the province says.
But some recent applicants had just signed a lease because they thought the top-up was available, said Guenther.
"They've told us, 'Now I have to decide whether I'm going to pay rent with all of my monthly budget and not go grocery shopping, or not spend money on other things.'"
For a newcomer who arrived in Winnipeg after fleeing her home country, the loss of the Canada-Manitoba Housing Benefit will extend her stay in an emergency shelter.
"Not every people [in the shelter] is good," said the refugee claimant. CBC has agreed not to identify her because she fears it may jeopardize her chances of staying in Canada.
"Every day in there there's a problem with people.… Every day is fighting. Every day is screaming."
Guenther said many low-income people have no choice but to look for housing in the private market because of a dire shortage of social housing units.
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