Social Housing Program

Non-Profit Housing Providers offer the Social Housing Program in buildings owned by Manitoba Housing and in buildings owned by the non-profit group. View the list of social housing here.

Private companies, such as Devereaux Developers, have private subsidies through the city for a couple units. Unfortunately, they don't advertise this information, and you have to do your own digging to see who is part of the program and if they have available suites.

Manitoba Housing - Shelter

Visit Manitoba Housing to learn more or apply.

• Adequate, affordable, and suitable access to shelter for low-income households in core housing need.
• A subsidy that is the difference between the market rent for a unit and the rent the tenant pays. The rent a tenant pays is based on a percentage of total gross household income, commonly referred to as Rent-Geared-To-Income (RGI).
• A rent based on a percentage of income that does not exceed the affordability benchmark set by CMHC.
• Supports to achieve a successful tenancy and transition to alternate housing options when appropriate.

Student Housing

The Students’ Association wants to aid RRC students in finding accommodations close to their campus of choice. There are several online search options available for students looking for places to live around Winnipeg.

Here are a few sites to help assist in your search for accommodations:

• Rentals.ca
• Kijiji Winnipeg Rentals
• Zillow Winnipeg Apartments
• Zumper Winnipeg Houses
• Renting Spaces

Learn more about RRC Residence Fees.

Millennium Library – Community Crisis/Case Workers

Provides information on shelter, housing, social assistance, employment counselling, mental health programs, services, health care information, and more. Visit Millennium Library Services.

251 Donald St, Winnipeg MB, R3C 3P5

Main Street Project – Social Assistance, Case Workers, Emergency Shelter

Main Street Project provides a safe place of respite, shelter, and support, with dignity and without judgment to individuals experiencing homelessness and addiction. Visit Main Street Project.

• The Emergency Shelter at 637 Main Street is open during the day from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for drop-in services such as access to soup, coffee, showers, phone, harm reduction supplies, and access to caseworkers. Overnight shelter is provided free of charge, on a first-come first-served basis.

• Mainstay Residence is a supported transitional living environment that provides residents with a safe place to live while they work to make positive changes in their lives.
• Community members often move on to safe accommodations, long-term supported housing, substance abuse treatment programs, or other appropriate accommodations. Transition workers often accompany clients into the community to support and teach them how to achieve daily living needs including:
  • Exploring future accommodations
  • Medication administration and home care supports
  • Resources to help manage addictions or illness
  • Working within a circle of supports to address any and all issues
  • Goal identification
  • Case coordination and planning
  • Capacity building through in-house and external experiences
• Mainstay is staffed 24/7 and provides assistance, continuity, and a sense of security to its up to 34 community members in 28 rooms.
• Apply here for Mainstay Residence.

Harvest Manitoba - Food

Learn more at Harvest Manitoba.

Please have your Manitoba Health card ready. The Harvest Crew will review your needs and arrange for your food hamper to be distributed to a location near you for pick up. Harvest food banks are located in communities across Manitoba.

Bring your Manitoba Health Card to your local food bank, and bags or boxes to carry your food hamper.

RaY (Resource Assistance for Youth) – Social Assistance up to 29 years of age

RaY provides free resources and programs for anyone 29 and under who needs assistance. Visit RaY.

• 204 783 5617
• We’re here Monday to Friday 9am-5pm to chat.

• “Right now, drop-in is happening outside in our parking lot at 125 Sherbrook Street. Food is handed out take-out style and staff will chat with you outside. We may be able to let limited people in to warm up for a few minutes depending on the day. We have masks and hand sanitizer available. We hope to have our regular drop-in up and running again someday soon!”

• “Right now, we are not able to offer showers or laundry services. Basic Needs items are available through our outdoor drop-in in the parking lot at 125 Sherbrook Street, Monday – Friday, 1 – 3 pm. We hope to have showers and laundry up and running again someday soon!”

Women’s Shelters

Find a shelter through the Manitoba Association of Women's Shelters or learn more at ShelterSafe.

• Ikwe-Widdjiitiwin
  • Phone Crisis # 1-877-977-0007
  • Admin # 204-987-2780
• Willow Place
  • Phone Crisis # 1-877-977-0007
  • Admin # 204-615-0313

Downtown Community Safety Partnership (DCSP) – Social Assistance

Learn more at DCSP.

• DCSP services and responses include the provision of information, assistance and referrals, social needs assessments, advanced first aid, outreach, and safe/courtesy walks.
• The DCSP can assist with non-emergency, non-violent community safety and wellness concerns, that may include individuals that pose a risk to themselves through non-threatening and non-escalating behaviours, including:
  • Health and Wellness needs:
    • Unsheltered person(s) requiring connections to shelter, food, resources
  • If you are aware of a non-violent situation that requires DCSP support, please dial 211 to connect with a DCSP team or community/social resource to help you.

EIA (Employment and Income Assistance) - $$

Learn more at EIA.

• Apply for EIA benefits using the EIA Online Application Portal.
• If you do not have access to the online application, please call 204-948-4000 (in Winnipeg) or 1-855-944-8111 (Rural and Northern offices).

• You must live in Manitoba and be in financial need.
• You may be eligible for assistance if the total cost of your or your family’s monthly basic needs and housing costs are more than your total financial resources. Your financial resources are based on your income and assets. Some of your income and assets may not affect your eligibility.
• For more information on EIA and Rent Assist eligibility and benefits that you may receive, please look at the EIA brochure that best fits your household situation.

The amount of your or your family’s basic needs are based on:

• the number of people in your family, their ages and relationships to each other
• the EIA basic allowance rate for your family size
• the cost of some of your ongoing health needs

For information on how to apply for EIA or Rent Assist or to set up a Pre-Intake Orientation, make an intake appointment, or find the EIA office that you should go to, please call 204-948-4000 if you are in Winnipeg or 1-855-944-8111 (toll free) if you are outside of Winnipeg.

Rent Assist - $$

Learn more at Rent Assist.

1. Manitobans receiving EIA will receive Rent Assist if they have housing costs. Rent Assist will be included with monthly EIA payments.
2. Rent Assist can also help with the cost of rent for low-income Manitobans who are renting or paying room and board in unsubsidized housing.

To apply for non-EIA Rent Assist, download an application form, or call Provincial Services at 204-948-7368 in Winnipeg; 1-877-587-6224 toll free; or TTY 204-948-3698 to have an application form mailed to you.

If you apply for EIA benefits, your eligibility for Rent Assist will also be assessed. To apply for EIA, call 204-948-4000 in Winnipeg; or 1-800-855-0511 (Manitoba Relay Service).

• pay rent or room and board for unsubsidized housing
• have a net annual income of less than $24,640 for a single person, or $28,040 for a single person 55 years of age or older, or a person who qualifies for the Disability Tax Credit or receive Canada Pension Plan Disability benefits, $31,440 for two people, $39,680 for three or four people and $49,440 for five or more people
• have dependent children in your home and have a net annual income of less than $39,680 for two to four people, or $49,440 for five or more people
• are a Canadian citizen, or a permanent resident of Canada.

• they rent their home from Manitoba Housing
• they, or the unit they live in, gets any other kind of housing benefit or subsidy
• they live on a First Nations reserve
• they live in a nursing home, hospital or residential care facility
• they live in student housing

Need Legal Help?

If you are seeking legal help or wanting to speak with a lawyer, there are many resources available to you. See below for Winnipeg legal services.

Legal Help Center – Empowering underserved individuals to navigate legal issues, offering guidance and connections to resources.

• Tuesday: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Intake: 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.)
• Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Intake: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.)
• Thursday: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Intake: 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.)

Legal Aid – Legal Aid Manitoba provides legal services to low-income adults and youth in Manitoba who qualify financially and have a case with merit.

The Law Society of Manitoba – Committed to protecting the public by ensuring the competent and ethical delivery of legal services.

Community Legal Education Association (CLEA) – Provides legal information to Manitobans to help them understand the legal system and resolve issues.

Law Phone-in & Lawyer Referral Program – Leave a message from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. or until capacity is reached. Lawyers return calls from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.