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Symposium explores solutions to chronic homelessness – Winnipeg Free Press

Posted on by Neons

Al Wiebe never thought he would become an advocate for the homeless.

Her experience helping the community includes filling her Mercedes with frozen turkeys and delivering them to shelters during the holidays.

Years later, he suffers from mental health issues, loses his six-figure income, and lives in the same car.

John Woods / FREE PRESS Al Wiebe, organizer of the second annual Human Rights Symposium on Homelessness and Poverty, which brought together more than 100 community advocates and policymakers at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights on Monday.

JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS

Al Wiebe, organizer of the second annual Human Rights Symposium on Homelessness and Poverty, which drew more than 100 community advocates and policymakers to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights on Monday.

“You are discriminated against as a homeless person. There are a lot of barriers to moving forward in a person's life, so I thought we should talk about it more,” Wiebe said.

The conversation continued Monday when more than 100 community advocates and policymakers gathered at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights for the Wiebe-hosted second annual Human Rights Symposium on Homelessness and Poverty.

After seeking support through her doctor, receiving psychiatric treatment, and eventually finding permanent housing, Wiebe began advocating for sustainable and affordable housing in Winnipeg.

Wiebe believes that the key to solving the city's homelessness problem is to work from the bottom up of the economic ladder instead of raising the middle class.

“Otherwise, (the government) will continue to feed off the middle incomes, and then we will hit the bottom and there will be nothing left,” he said.

More than a dozen speakers, including representatives from organizations, people with experience and city council members, explored possible solutions to chronic homelessness.

Number. Vivian Santos (Point Douglas) focused on reducing bus fares, increasing public bathrooms, addressing period poverty and “smart cleaning” of homeless encampments as areas of focus in the interim. He said long-term solutions rely on money from all levels of government to address the housing stock.