City advised to reject plan for managed homeless encampment

CTV’s Jon Hendricks has more on councillors being advised to drop the idea of a managed outdoor homeless encampment.

The City of Winnipeg is being advised to shelve a proposal to create a managed outdoor homeless encampment site in the city.

According to a report in the executive policy committee agenda, the city is being advised against approving the plan, citing costs, timing, staffing concerns and community consultation.

Discussions started in December 2025, with the city noting several other Canadian cities, such as Hamilton and Halifax, have similar programs. The proposed site would be available between April and August and would help between 24 and 60 people, depending on the size of the site.

The site would include washrooms, garbage bins and service providers. A location was not identified in the proposal.

The report noted the managed encampment would cost between $707,000 and $1.39 million and doesn’t include 24/7 security costs or wrap-around supports.

Mayor Scott Gillingham said Wednesday he would be supporting the recommendation.

“The City of Winnipeg is in partnership with the Province of Manitoba on the Your Way Home strategy,” he said. “We know, collectively, there is a lot of work that we have to do to address homelessness, and we are taking action.”

Gillingham said the city will be working with the province and other agencies to address homeless encampments when they appear.

The report will be discussed when the committee meets on April 21.