Housing is a human right and is essential for survival, health, and wellbeing…

…But thousands of Manitobans are unable
to find stable housing that they can afford.

Social Housing is the Key

Bold investments in social housing at all levels of government are the key to ending the housing crisis in our cities, province, and country.

Help make it a reality.

Take Action Today

It’s time for all levels of government to end the housing crisis.

Take Action Today

Take Action

We are calling on the Manitoba government to implement solutions to the housing and homelessness crisis that are rooted in our Social Housing Action Plan for Manitoba. 

Current Calls to Action

Right to Housing is part of the national Social Housing and Human Rights Coalition which is leading a nation-wide campaign calling on the federal government to expand investments in social housing.

Current Calls to Action

Endorse the national Social Housing and Human Rights Campaign
Send federal Minister Robertson a letter calling for investments in social housing

Background Information

The Government of Canada once prioritized social housing, but in the early 1990s they drastically reduced their spending in this area. Since then, the provinces, including Manitoba, have relied almost exclusively on the private market to produce low-rent housing. 

However, this 30-year-old experiment has failed, and it is clear that the private market is unable to supply genuinely affordable housing. As a result, thousands of people in Manitoba are unable to find stable housing that they can afford. Nearly 6,000 households are on the waitlist for a social housing unit. 

With nowhere else to go, many people end up staying with friends/family, in shelters, or outside. According to the 2022 street census, there are more than 1,200 people experiencing homelessness on any given night in Winnipeg alone.

It’s time for all levels of government to reverse this trend and end the housing crisis by investing in social housing. 

Social housing is non-market housing where rents are set at 30% or less of household income. The difference between what the tenant pays and the cost of providing the unit is covered through a subsidy. 

Social housing can be owned by the government and operated by either government or non-profits. It can also be owned by non-profits or co-operatives that receive ongoing subsidies from the state through an agreement that ensures units remain available at social housing rates.

Social housing is different from “affordable housing” which has no strict definition. “Affordable housing often simply means that it’s “more affordable” than market housing — but it often remains out of reach for lower-income households. 

Social housing is often the only type of housing that is guaranteed not to exceed 30% of household income, making it affordable for individuals and families with very low incomes. Because of this, social housing is a critical form of public infrastructure that is necessary for a healthy, functional society.

Take Action – Become a Supporter

It’s time for all levels of government to end the housing crisis.

Take Action Today

Social Housing is the Key

Bold investments in social housing at all levels of government are the key to ending the housing crisis in our cities, province, and country.

Help make it a reality.

Take Action Today