The Manitoba government is adding $1.2 million in benefits to help Manitobans who need support with rent, lifting the pause on the Canada-Manitoba Housing Benefit (CMHB).
Housing, Addictions and Homelessness Minister Bernadette Smith said Thursday, “Our government is committed to ending chronic homelessness and we know that there is so much more to do. We are providing these funds immediately to ensure this program can be accessible to those struggling and who need support with the rising cost of living.”
The increased funding will help bring this year’s total to $10.8 million in benefits, said Smith.
From October 2023 to June 2024, the Manitoba government supported 1,600 families and individuals with their rental costs, doubling the number of recipients from last year. The province approved an additional 282 recipients in August and steps to support those applicants are currently underway.
With this funding, the temporary pause has concluded and application intake has resumed. Applications received to date will be addressed first and additional families will benefit from this increase in funds until allocations of the new funds are exhausted, noted the minister.
