Manwin Hotel tenants frustrated with City after being forced to leave
Posted January 23, 2025 5:29 pm.
Last Updated January 23, 2025 5:46 pm.
Tenants of the Manwin Hotel, have been ordered to leave immediately after the City of Winnipeg issued a vacate order earlier this month but some of those tenants say there is a lack of alternative housing, and their frustrated with the City’s decision.
The City of Winnipeg confirmed they issued the order after inspectors flagged several safety issues, which included a dangerous fire escape and ongoing maintenance issues. 34 residents, who call this hotel home, were forced to pack up and leave.
“I just don’t understand why they would say it’s uninhabitable,” said Ken, a returning resident.
City officials say they contacted the provincial residential tenancies brand and Employment and income assistance to help tenants. But the hotel owner, Akim Kambama says tenants who did initially move out, returned back because they found nowhere to go.
“You don’t just come in -40 degree weather and say get out, this is Canada for goodness’ sake, friendly Manitoba,” said Akim Kambamba, the owner of the Manwin Hotel.
“I take them in because they are good people, they are human beings, they are not cattle that can just be tossed into the snow.”
Kambamba says he’s working on repairs at the hotel, but says they are costly.
“You can walk anywhere you want to you’re not going to fall through the floor,” said Ken.
Ken, who asked CityNews to only use his first name, has been living at the hotel since 2008. He says getting off the street and living inside the Manwin has helped him work towards a better future.
“Some of the people who come in here work their way from the ground, get into here, and then they go off and do something better,” said Ken.
While the hotel has seen its fair share of incidents over the past few years, Ken says it gets an unfair reputation. He feels the real issue stems from surrounding shelters dealing with overcapacity.
“All those people sitting outside freezing right now because I have that front door locked, sneak in at night and do we throw them out? No,” said Ken.
Kambamba has appealed the City’s decision, with a hearing set for February 10th. In the meantime, he says he will continue to allow tenants to stay, arguing that the risk of homelessness, especially during the cold months, outweighs the building’s flaws.
