After decades of work by Indigenous community activists, Winnipeg is finally receiving funding for a 24/7 shelter – National Observer
October 24th 2022
Winnipeg will finally establish a 24/7 shelter for Indigenous women and gender-diverse people thanks to funding from the federal Ministry of Indigenous Affairs. It’s a victory for community advocates who have been working for decades on the project.
Velma’s House, as the shelter will be called, will be run by Ka Ni Kanichihk, an Indigenous service provider, which can now hire at least 10 staff members, project manager Amy Graham said in an interview.
Velma’s House first opened in 2021 after receiving startup funding. But the new cash — $6.9 million over four years — will allow it to move to a new location and operate 24 hours a day, Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu said in an interview.
Much of the advocacy work that mounted the successful push for a 24-hour shelter was done by survivors who knew first-hand the need for the space in the community, Graham said.
Read More: https://www.nationalobserver.com/2022/10/24/news/winnipeg-finally-receiving-funding-24-hour-shelter
