Central Community Homes cuts ribbon on 28-unit affordable, supportive housing complex
After years of dreaming, planning, fundraising, and, finally, building, Central Community Homes’ newest 28-unit affordable housing complex is now complete.
Officials cut the ribbon on the multi-storey building at 557 North Railway Ave. in Winkler Sept. 24. The first residents began moving into the facility earlier this month.
“This is the culmination of about five years of planning, including in the pandemic, to get us where we are today,” shared CCH board chair James Friesen.
“When Central Community Homes took on the responsibility of providing social housing in this community, in partnership with Manitoba Housing, we said the obligation of a community is to care for its own members. And that has continued to be the theme for the organization going forward.”
This project was made possible thanks to not only funding commitments from multiple levels of government—including capital investments and ongoing operating support from Manitoba Housing—but also the many corporate partners and community donors who believed in the vision for this facility.
And thanks to recent funding confirmation to the tune of $400,000 a year from Manitoba Health, CCH was able to partner with Eden Health Care Services to offer on-site support services to the building’s residents.
“So not only is it a beautiful new home for 28 individuals, it is also a place where people can continue their mental health recovery,” Friesen said. “And it will provide the ability for individuals to not only just have a roof over their head, but rather to become truly invested members in this community.”
Bringing greetings to the event on behalf of the provincial NDP government—which held its caucus retreat in Morden-Winkler last week—was Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara and Housing Minister Bernadette Smith, who also oversees the province’s mental health portfolio.
“A lot of people have touched this project, and so I want to say thank you for everything that you’ve done as a community, as partners, to get to this point,” said Asagwara.
The $400,000 in annual funding recognizes “that health and housing go hand in hand,” Asagwara said. “We know that if people are housed with dignity and safety, with the supports they need, that you’re going to have happier and healthier outcomes. And we know that healthier communities are safer communities, more productive communities.”
Winkler Mayor Henry Siemens, who serves on the CCH board, noted that while this project is complete, the work of addressing affordable housing needs in the community continues.
“Much more work needs to be done. Today we’re here to celebrate, and then we’re going to start immediately on the next step,” he said, noting the new units are already fully rented, and still many people remain on the wait list for a place to live. “We start again, because the need is still there, and the need will continue.”
“Safe, affordable shelter is a fundamental human right,” stressed Friesen. “Our responsibility is to make sure that some of the most vulnerable in our midst are receiving what they need. Their voices are often quieter, so we’re trying to be that voice.”
Morden-Winkler MLA Carrie Hiebert, who serves as the Conservative shadow minister for housing, addictions, and homelessness, shared her excitement at seeing this project come to fruition after years of work and lobbying the government for support.
“I’m happy to see these funds come to our community,” she said, noting it shows that “when you put in the effort to really bring that awareness [to a project], it really does pay off.
“I think the community as a whole has been amazing to support such a great housing project.”
Spreading her wings
For Lynette Bergen, who was one of the first tenants to move in, the affordable housing coupled with supportive services is what’s allowing her to live independently for the first time in her life.
“It’s really nice,” she said of the building, which offers one- and two-bedroom units. The facility also has a shared common room for residents to gather and socialize, laundry facilities, and two on-staff support workers to help ensure tenants are accessing the services available to them and are thriving.
“Being someone who is very anxious about moving out for the first time later in life … I was very anxious at first, but it was really a lot easier than I thought it would be,” Bergen observed of moving into her own space, which she’s been enjoying decorating and settling into the past few weeks.
“The programming that’s available is a huge piece,” noted her mother, Cathleen Bergen, of Lynette’s ability to successfully leave the nest. “Because I knew she couldn’t move out on her own without something being there for her to help her if she needed the help.”
