Ottawa/CMEDIA: Canada’s Prime Minister, Mark Carney, backed by nearly $30 billion, and joined by the Premier of Manitoba, Wab Kinew and others, has reportedly announced building over 2,000 new supportive and transitional homes and a new Winnipeg Centre for Mental Health and Addictions within 10 years.
“Homelessness is one of the hardest challenges our country faces…With Budget 2026, we are bringing help, housing, and health care together, building on what front-line workers have taught us, to end homelessness within 10 years. Today, we are putting that plan into action in Winnipeg, and we are inviting every willing partner across the country to join us in this effort,” Carney has siad
“There should be no homelessness in a rich country like Canada…Our government’s Your Way Home strategy is focused on going tent to tent, offering housing and the wrap-around supports folks need to stay there…that each person has the mental health and addictions supports they need to succeed, Kinew has said.
This federal initiative to tackle homelessness ensures all Canadians can live in dignity and community. Homelessness is not only about a roof over one’s head, but about stability of a safe and affordable home, and the health care many need, including mental health and addictions. These systems need to be improved by Budget 2026’s initiaves: Help, Housing, and Health.
Help: reaching people early, and staying with them until they find a home
The funding of $6.5 billion to renew and strengthen the Reaching Home Initiative and support for veteran homelessness not only supports community-led efforts to prevent homelessness, but also connects people with shelter and essential services, and helps them find employment support and a permanent home. To measure the scale of homelessness and track progress in reducing it, Communities would also need to provide more consistent and timely data. Funding of $5.5 billion to renew the Canada Housing Benefit would provide direct monthly rental assistance to low-income Canadians, including survivors of gender-based violence, so they can pay their rent, keep their homes, and avoid becoming homeless.
Housing: a safe place to go, from transitional homes to deeply affordable ones
Build Canada Homes would provide $10 billion to support the delivery of about 25,000 supportive and transitional homes construction across Canada, while provinces and territories fund operations and the services residents need to stay housed. With more partners, this investment will grow.
Health: care and a home, together under one roof
To build facilities that bring housing, health care, mental health and addictions treatment, and other social services together with public, private and philanthropic partners, $5 billion for a new Integrated Supports Fund would be delivered through Build Canada Homes. The model builds on the success of Toronto’s Dunn House, where residents’ emergency room visits have been cut in half. To Build Communities Strong Fund’s Health Infrastructure Fund $2 billion would be provided to new community mental health and addictions treatment facilities and refurbish existing ones.
Starting in Winnipeg
Over $200 million in federal funding, thirst investment from the new Integrated Supports Fund, will support construction of the Winnipeg Centre for Mental Health and Addictions.The Centre is expected to be fully operational in as soon as three years. These projects, combined with supportive and transitional housing already committed by Build Canada Homes in partnership with Manitoba, mean up to 2,500 new homes in Winnipeg. Homes with critical supports, for the people who need them most.
