CMHR presents a symposium on homelessness and poverty

The Canadian Museum of Human Rights was the backdrop for a symposium on homelessness and poverty on Monday.

Nonprofit organizations, elected officials, and those who experience homelessness firsthand came together to discuss the root causes of homelessness and how to address the crisis.

“It's people from different perspectives,” organizer Al Wiebe told CTV News.

Wiebe spent almost two and a half years on the streets after losing his job. Now he works as a lawyer for vulnerable people.

“Each story is different, but the same because he goes to the obstacles to get help,” explained Wiebe.

Jameel Mahmoud of the Main Street Project estimates there are about 4,000 homeless people living in Winnipeg right now, and says the numbers fluctuate depending on the time of year.

“So we're coming into the warmer seasons with more people on the streets or homeless,” Mahmoud said. “It's a very big problem and it's something we have to confront.”

About 100 people attended the symposium and heard about the rights to housing, food security and health. They also participated in a round table to share ideas on solutions to the problem of homelessness.

According to Wiebe, most of the conversations were about building affordable housing and providing social support.

“Giving them what they need is not just to survive in the shelter, but to thrive in the shelter,” Wiebe said.

City councilor Marcus Chambers, who chairs the Winnipeg Human Rights Committee, helped Wiebe organize the event. He said it was important for all levels of government to work together with people working in social services.

“They know exactly what it takes to address the city's homelessness problem,” Chambers explained. “We hope as a city they will take away some of the comments they made.”

Earlier this month, the Manitoba government announced a $30 million plan to help address homelessness; primarily by increasing the province's supply of affordable housing.