‘Threat for their safety’: Winnipeg groups say encampment ban harms city’s homeless population
Posted May 26, 2026 6:27 pm.
Last Updated May 26, 2026 6:33 pm.
There is no space available for encampments in Winnipeg, according to a new tool unveiled by Winnipeg outreach groups Tuesday.
The groups say it’s evidence of the impact the city’s encampment protocol is having on the unhoused population.
“We really see that there is nowhere in the city of Winnipeg where it’s OK to camp,” said Kate Sjoberg, the executive director of Resource Assistance for Youth.
As of last November, encampments are prohibited within 30 to 50 metres of several areas, such as playgrounds, pools, schools, daycares, bridges, rail crossings, or transit shelters.
The digital map, developed by Resource Assistance for Youth, shows areas available for camping in the city before and after November 2025. The red areas include private property and public property that falls under the protocol enforcement.
The groups says the current policy restricts and limits access to health care, housing support and resources.
“When governments enforce bans or clear out encampments, they are not just removing tents, they are breaking relationships that people rely on for safety and survival,” said Lorie English, the executive director of the West Central Women’s Resource Centre.
The groups say the policy makes outreach work more challenging. They say, for instance, they are unable to locate the individuals they were providing support to.
“We used to be able to connect with community members weekly, multiple times a week, to ensure that basic needs are met while waiting for housing options to become available,” explained Levi Foy, the executive director of Sunshine House.
“That’s an immediate threat for their safety,” added English. “So it is forcing them even without the city coming in with the bylaw officers, it’s forcing the people to feel that they need to move in order to keep themselves safe.”
Mayor Scott Gillingham says he still supports the encampment protocol.
“It is a decision that was the right decision to make,” the mayor said. “We need to make sure that families have access to parks and playgrounds without concern, and that there are areas where we just cannot permit encampments to set up.”
As the weather continues get better, many camps that were gone in winter are popping up again.
Shirley Neepin has been camping on and off at the same location for two years. She says that’s because it feels a lot safer to camp there.
“It’s busy here, that’s why,” Neepin explained. “But I understand why there should be no camping here. Because it is too close to inner city.”
Neepin set up her tent recently but says she feels pushed out. She hopes one day there will be more low-income housing and financial supports.
“Not everyone, especially homeless people such as myself, can make it to designated camping sites outside of the city.”
