"We just hope that we don't have to wait too much longer." Winkler Mayor awaits word on affordable housing support

Winkler's mayor is confident they will hear soon from Manitoba Housing regarding the status of a funding application for a 28-unit affordable housing project planned for Main Street. 
    
Planning and designing of the complex began in spring 2021 after the City received a grant of around $1 million from Manitoba Housing, but the project was paused the following year when construction estimates came in too high - at roughly $6 million.
    
Henry Siemens says the City has been working with Central Community Housing to move things forward on another funding application to the province.

"There is an application that has gone into Manitoba Housing that has been deemed to be very good. We had hoped that we would hear an announcement before the (October) provincial election that we had been successful, we didn't. Our hope had been to hear very quickly after the election. To date, we have not heard but we do have confidence that it's going to come fairly soon."

According to Siemens, they've been told by the Province that this is an appropriate and needed project for Winkler. 

"[...] and that we can anticipate some support," he added. "We just hope that we don't have to wait too much longer."

Currently, there are 90 units of this type of housing in Winkler, far short of the need, noted Siemens. He says about 180 more units are required. 
    

With files from Pam Fedack