City council is being advised to abandon a possible “managed encampment” site pilot project, citing time constraints and high operational costs.
In December, city council voted for a report to determine the feasibility of running a temporary managed encampment this spring and summer, which could include portable washrooms, garbage bins and on-site service providers to offer resources to the people staying there.
In a report that will be presented to council’s executive policy committee April 21, the public service is advising the city to drop the idea.
A homeless encampment behind the Granite Curling Club in 2025 (John Woods / Free Press files)
“Given the time constraints to operationalize a managed encampment site before spring, the significant operational costs, the current work of the province, which limits its ability to support this pilot, and the need to engage the community related to site selection, design and operations, the public service is not recommending that the pilot move forward at this time,” the report reads.
“To proceed, further analysis is needed, including community engagement related to site selection, a comprehensive legal review on the project, and a more detailed cost evaluation.”
The report suggests the site, which could host 24 to 60 people, based on size and the number of staff needed, could cost between $707,168 to $1.39 million to operate from April to August.
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“This does not include funding for security, wrap-around supports, or (other) on-site staff,” the report said. “It is recommended that at a minimum a managed encampment would have a 24-7 on-site staff presence by an appropriate external provider.”
Council asked city staff to consult with the province on possible funding support options, but the report said the Housing, Addictions and Homelessness department advised the province wouldn’t be able to commit any new funding or divert existing services this summer.
The province suggested supporting the project would likely force a reduction in the Your Way Home chronic homelessness strategy and the November opening of its “navigation centre,” which it said would offer many of the supports suggested in the managed encampment pilot.
A number of Canadian cities have versions of managed encampment sites, which offer amenities ranging from basic washroom and water facilities to tiny homes, laundry and internet.
malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca
Malak Abas is a city reporter at the Free Press. Born and raised in Winnipeg’s North End, she led the campus paper at the University of Manitoba before joining the Free Press in 2020. Read more about Malak.
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