Happy New Year! We hope you had a restful and safe holiday season. 2022 is starting off with important engagement opportunities with the provincial government, who committed to introducing a homelessness strategy that emphasizes a whole-of-government-approach. The provincial government is now seeking input to help develop and implement a provincial strategy to end homelessness in Manitoba.

From January 12 to February 25, 2022, Manitoba Families is leading a province-wide engagement process to inform the strategy’s approach, priorities and actions. To read the announcement click here and to read the discussion paper click here. You can sign up to attend any of the sessions below by emailing homelessness@gov.mb.ca by Friday, January 14, 2022.
MNPHA NEWS AND UPDATES
Province of Manitoba’s Housing Supports Initiative Delivers Funding
 
In March of 2021, the province announced a new initiative to provide more support to connect people experiencing and at risk of homelessness to housing and supports to prevent and address their homelessness situations. The funding, called the Housing Supports Initiative, is administered by MNPHA. As a result, MNPHA reached out to many organizations throughout the program who deliver housing or services. Four separate community consultations were held to help determine priority areas.
 
As a result of these consultations, a Call for Proposals was developed focusing on:
 
1.    Maintaining successful tenancy;
2.    Sector capacity building; and
3.    Case management.
 
We received twenty-nine applications and with the help of our Proposal Review Committee selected eighteen organizations to receive funding. Each month going forward we will profile one of our grant recipients here.
HSI Recipient Profile: Jubilee Fund launches first rent guarantee program for at-risk women in MB!

In partnership with Manitoba Association of Women’s Shelters and the support of the Jubilee Fund's investors and donors, The Jubilee Fund will be launching Canada’s first rent guarantee program for at-risk women in Manitoba in May 2022!

When at-risk women are unable to secure public or non-profit housing due to lack of availability, they often turn to for-profit housing but get turned down due to lack of a rental history and/or financial viability in the landlords' eyes. This can cause them to go back to abusive partners or secure housing with predatory property owners.

This new, innovative program’s sole purpose will be to co-sign for at-risk women’s rent as they rebuild their lives on tight budgets, and help build their rental history to build their independence and secure a safe and good future for their children. To read more about the Jubilee Fund's work click here.
Building Boards Level 2 Registration Now Open
Calling all Board Members! MNPHA has designed a board training program, tailored to board members serving the non-profit housing sector. Whether you’re new to non-profit board governance, new to a housing-focused organization, or experienced in both, this custom-designed training for the non-profit housing sector in Manitoba is for you.

At the end of Level 2, participants are able to:

– Undertake strategic planning in order to ensure the health of their organization.
– Identify the mission, vision, and values of an organization, and articulate guiding principles.
– Identify the Board’s role in financial oversight, including understanding the purpose of the annual audit, and the capital planning process
– So much more!
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Urban and Hometown Green Team

Grant applications are now being accepted for the Urban and Hometown Green Team program, which allows organizations to hire youth between the ages of 15 and 29 for summer jobs across to work on community projects between May 1 and Sept. 30. Eligible recipients include non-profit organizations in Winnipeg and rural Manitoba, and municipal governments in rural Manitoba.

The grants cover 100 per cent of wage costs plus $250 per position for non-profit organizations. Municipal governments receive 50 per cent of wage costs and $125 per position on a cost-shared basis. The deadline for applications is Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. For more information on Urban and Hometown Green Team applications, visit www.manitobago.ca. 

Canada Summer Jobs 2022

The annual Call for Applications for Canada Summer Jobs is open until January 25, 2022.
Applicants are able to seek funding to hire youth (people aged 15-30 years) between April 25, 2022 and September 3, 2022. Work placements must be full-time (30-40 hours per week) quality jobs with a minimum duration of six weeks and a maximum of 16 weeks.
 
Approved employers from the not-for profit sector will be eligible for a wage subsidy reimbursement of up to 100% of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage.
Learn more and apply here
EVENTS AND RESOURCES
NECRC HOUSING SERVICES AND SUPPORTS

For over 20 years, the North End Community Renewal Corporation (NECRC) has worked to support tenants, landlords and homeowners in our community.
NECRC has a range of programs and supports available, including tenant and landlord education, housing supports, grants and more. To read more about their offerings click here.
JOB BOARD
MNPHA is hiring a Rent Relief Fund Case Management Support Worker

The RRF is seeking applications for this term position that will provide intake, assessment, and resource connection support to clients. This position will work closely with the Program Manager and as part of a small team. The Rent Relief Fund Case Management Support Worker will have excellent and assertive written and verbal communications with a wide range of audiences, be resourceful and detail-oriented, and able to work well both independently and within a small team. To read the full job posting click here. 
Applications are reviewed as received, so apply asap
Winnipeg Housing Rehabilitation Corporation Senior Account Position

Winnipeg Housing is currently seeking a Senior Accountant. Reporting directly to the Manager of Accounting Services, the Senior Accountant will perform a variety of day-to-day accounting functions, month-end closing processes, and assist with monthly financial statements. Applications are being accepted until January 7, and the full job description can be found here.
Kinew Housing is Hiring a Tenant Support Worker

Kinew's Tenant Support Worker will establish relationships with existing tenants, especially those who are vulnerable (contact through site visits and phone calls), conduct ongoing site visits and phone calls to tenants, and attend new tenant orientations sessions, among other duties. For the full job description click here. Cover letter and resume can be sent to lpoirier.kinew@mymts.com.
COVID-19 RESOURCES AND INFORMATION
PROVINCE CHANGES SELF-ISOLATION PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER TO HELP ADDRESS COVID-19 CASE COUNTS

The Manitoba government is following the advice of public health officials and making changes to the self-isolation public health order to adapt to the prevalence of rapid antigen tests and to help address the surge in COVID-19 cases caused by the omicron variant.

The changes include:
  • requiring all people who have tested positive for COVID-19 to isolate including those who completed a rapid antigen test;
  • changing isolation requirements to five days from 10 days since the date of the test for fully-vaccinated people who are not showing symptoms;
  • changing isolation requirements to five days from 10 days since the date symptoms started appearing or the date of the test, whichever is later, for fully-vaccinated people as long as their symptoms are improving and they do not have a fever;
  • requiring individuals who have only isolated for five days due to the changes above to wear medical-grade mask while in a public setting for the five days immediately following their self-isolation; and
  • requiring isolation for people who have tested positive who are not fully vaccinated for 10 days after the date of their test as long as their symptoms are improving and they do not have a fever.

The public health orders came into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022. Public health documents and online guidance for stakeholders and the public is being updated and will be finalized in the days ahead.

Public health officials also advise that people leaving isolation must avoid any non-essential visits to high-risk settings or non-essential contact with individuals at high risk for severe disease for an additional five days.
Consistent with previous orders, the order continues to include: 
  • requiring close contacts who are not exempt from self-isolation requirements to self-isolate for 10 days; and
  • requiring people to provide information about locations where people have been in the previous 10 days for contact tracing purposes as required.  

For more information go to the Manitoba Government's pandemic response webpage.
JANUARY PICTURE OF THE MONTH
MNPHA's staff team has grown from one three years ago to ten last month. Our holiday celebration was a team potluck, held in early December. Watch our website for a new "meet the team", which will be up by the end of January.

No idea is too big or too small for picture of the month for February's newsletter!