As Winnipeg grapples with a growing housing crisis, tent encampments have become a stark and visible reality across the city.
In parks, under bridges, and along riverbanks, makeshift shelters highlight the struggles of those who have fallen through the cracks of the housing system. Rising rents, a lack of affordable housing, and barriers to accessing emergency shelters have left many with no other option but to live in these encampments.
The presence of these communities has sparked debate. Advocates argue they provide a sense of safety and stability for those experiencing homelessness, while city officials and residents raise concerns about public safety, sanitation, and long-term solutions. As temperatures drop in the winter months, the urgency to address the crisis becomes even more pressing.
This Tuesday, February 18th at 2 p.m., the Music and Maven’s Concerts and Lecture series at the Rady JCC will be hosting a lecture that touches on some of these challenges.
Called Homeless Encampments and Community Wellbeing, this lecture will be hosted by criminologist and Associate Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Winnipeg, Dr. Katherina Maeir.
Katharine Maeir has spent her professional career examining issues around the criminal justice system, focusing on prisoner re-entry into society, penal supervision, both during incarceration and after release, halfway houses, urban poverty, and social marginality.
Maeir's discussion will explore how the ongoing drug toxicity crisis and housing instability contribute to the rise of homeless encampments. Drawing from ethnographic research and first-hand narratives, she will illustrate how encampments often serve as communities where unhoused individuals establish social roles, maintain safety, and navigate daily survival challenges.
A key focus of the lecture will be the role of municipal policies in addressing homelessness. With cities across Canada facing increasing encampments, Maeir will highlight the lack of clear guidelines for municipalities and emphasize the need for structured policies that balance public safety concerns with the well-being of encampment residents. She will also provide recommendations on how local governments can create supportive solutions, such as improved transitional housing and healthcare access, to reduce recidivism and support long-term stability.
Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in a Q&A session, allowing for a deeper discussion on this nuanced issue. Maeir hopes to spark conversations that challenge perspectives and inspire actionable change.
For those interested in attending, registration details can be found at readyjc.com or classic107.com. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of homelessness and the policies that shape our communities.
Chris Wolf had an opportunity to sit down with Dr. Maeir and discuss some of the issues surrounding this extremely complicated and nuanced issue that Canadian cities, including Winnipeg, are dealing with.
Understanding Homeless Encampments: Causes, Risks, and Policy Gaps
Homeless encampments have become an increasingly visible part of urban life, sparking debate over their causes, risks, and how cities should respond. While some view them as a symptom of a larger crisis, others see them as unsafe and disruptive. However, at the heart of the issue lies a fundamental challenge: housing.
The Root of the Issue
Dr. Maeir emphasizes that the growing presence of encampments reflects the broader struggle for affordable housing and social supports. The lack of accessible shelter options forces many individuals to seek alternatives, including tent communities.
"At the core, the challenge is housing. People who stay or choose to erect a homeless encampment lack housing—or they lack accessible, affordable, and most importantly, safe housing."
Risks Faced by Encampment Residents
Life in encampments comes with serious risks, including heightened exposure to violence and crime.
As Maeir explains, "Unhoused individuals face a much higher risk of victimization and violence, including gender violence, hate crime, theft, robbery, and assault. These risks come from both outside and within the street community."
Even those who do not use drugs are still vulnerable to the ongoing toxic drug crisis.
"Even people who are unhoused and don’t consume drugs are still affected by the toxic drug supply."
The Complexity of Homelessness
Homelessness is often misunderstood as a singular issue, but those who work closely with unhoused individuals stress that the causes are varied and complex.
"We have talked to people who were journalists and became homeless. We’ve talked to cooks who had a stable life, then suffered an accident, got addicted to opioids, and things spiralled out of control."
"We’ve also talked to people who spent most of their childhood in foster care, people who returned from prison onto the streets with no housing, and survivors of domestic violence who had nowhere else to go."
"It really doesn’t take much for someone to end up on the street."
Balancing Public Concerns and Solutions
As public concerns about encampments grow, experts argue that a nuanced approach is necessary.
"We need to validate people's concerns. We can't just say, ‘deal with it,’ but we also need to humanize unhoused community members and educate the public about why people live in encampments."
In the short term, there are ways to improve conditions for encampment residents while broader solutions are developed.
"Could we provide more services to encampments in the short run—such as ensuring there are garbage bins and safe places to discard needles?"
Policy and Government Response
A recurring criticism of government responses is the reliance on temporary fixes.
"Traditionally, governments have invested in short-term solutions, like increasing shelter beds. While that’s important, we need long-term solutions that focus on housing."
However, housing alone is not a sufficient solution without additional support systems.
"An approach that only responds with housing won’t work. We need to pair housing services with harm reduction, mental health supports, and social services."
Housing and Healthcare for Former Prisoners
One particularly vulnerable group within the unhoused population is former prisoners, for whom stable housing can be a turning point in preventing recidivism.
"Housing is one of the most important factors in terms of reducing recidivism. People who are provided with safe and stable housing post-release from prison have much better chances to rebuild their lives, which includes living a life free of crime."
"If care does not continue post-release, people have very limited chances of rebuilding a life that allows them to desist from crime and live in well-being."
"Ensuring public safety means investing in people's individual well-being."
Understanding Homeless Encampments
Encampments are often viewed as chaotic, but some have developed their own forms of organization.
"Encampments are not just clusters of tents. In some cases, they are structured communities where people take on roles—conflict resolution, cleaning, gathering food, or looking after each other’s tents."
"This is not about romanticizing encampments. It is about understanding why people join them and how they organize life within them."
Despite their growing presence, there are no clear guidelines for how municipalities should address encampments.
"There is currently a lack of guidelines for municipalities on how to deal with homeless encampments. Cities have been left to bear the brunt of responding to concerns, yet without clear frameworks for action."
Encouraging Public Discussion
Experts and advocates continue to push for informed discussions on homelessness, encampments, and solutions.
"My goal is to showcase interview data, make sense of it, and start a discussion. I always look forward to hearing other people's thoughts and being challenged with tough questions."
"I leave every lecture with new thoughts and new ways of viewing things."
As encampments persist and the housing crisis deepens, understanding the realities of homelessness and pursuing meaningful policy change remain urgent priorities.