Winnipeg Homeless Camps Debate: Should the City Designate Spaces for Encampments?

Winnipeg homeless camps debate
As Winnipeg city councillors consider new restrictions on homeless camps, a heated debate has emerged: should the city provide designated spaces for unhoused residents, or should resources focus entirely on permanent housing solutions?

Earlier this week, the Winnipeg City Council’s Community Services Committee unanimously approved a motion banning camps in certain areas—such as playgrounds, pools, schools, and daycare centers—while also requiring enforcement during daytime hours. The proposal still needs to pass through the Executive Policy Committee before a final council vote later this month.

Voices from the Ground

For people like Shane Popiel, who has lived in Winnipeg encampments since the COVID-19 pandemic, the new rules raise mixed feelings. Speaking outside his Point Douglas camp, he said he supports the motion in principle but criticized the idea of forcing people to pack up and move every day.

“It will cause chaos,” he told CBC News. Popiel describes himself as a free spirit who prefers living outdoors, despite the hardships. He noted that many unhoused individuals refuse shelters due to theft, lack of privacy, and “too much drama.” Instead, he suggested that the city should consider creating a designated area for camps.

“Some people just don’t want to be in shelters,” he said. “Maybe they could come up with a solution where there’s a dedicated space for encampments.”

City Officials Respond

Councillor Jeff Browaty of North Kildonan, who has pushed for the motion’s approval, acknowledged that enforcing daytime dismantling of camps might not be realistic.

“It’s not realistic to expect every camp to disappear during the day,” he said. “But it does allow us to draw clear lines.”

However, Browaty rejected the idea of formally designating areas for homeless camps.

“People living like this is not humane,” he explained. “If individuals truly lack the mental or physical capacity to contribute to society, then the state must step in and provide housing.”

A Divided Debate

The Winnipeg homeless camps debate reflects broader questions about how Canadian cities should address homelessness:

• Should unhoused residents be allowed to remain in encampments if they reject shelters?
• Would designated camping areas reduce conflict between residents and neighborhoods?
• Or should the focus be entirely on permanent housing solutions as a matter of human dignity?

Advocates argue that banning encampments without offering alternatives only pushes unhoused people further into crisis. Others insist that shelters and housing programs must be prioritized over temporary outdoor living spaces.

Conclusion

The upcoming council vote will be a defining moment for Winnipeg’s homelessness policy. Whether the city chooses enforcement, designated spaces, or investment in permanent housing, one thing remains clear: the debate over Winnipeg homeless camps is far from over, and lives hang in the balance.

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