The Pas,
October 22, 2005

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The Pas Workshop #2
(November 17, 2006)

The first destination of our Northern Tour 2006 was The Pas. We had the opportunity to spend a day at a women's shelter and hear from staff and residents their needs and concerns. We noted immediately that there is an incredible need for - and a lack of - affordable housing in The Pas; we heard that the waiting list to get into Manitoba Housing is up to four years long. There are not many options for low-income housing in The Pas and not many apartment complexes either. There exists a phenonmenon called “invisible homelessness”; many dwellings hold two or three families because families open up their homes to their kin.

“I am a single mother and have been living with my parents for many years because I haven't been able to afford the rent of houses or apartments. I have tried to get into Manitoba Housing but the waiting list is long and some of the houses don't seem adequate or safe,” commented one particpant.

Another women wisely told us, “Every woman needs a home fire — that's where it starts, and then you can go from there.” This comment summed up our entire Northern Tour. The need and desperation of the inadequate housing options all over Northern Manitoba became so apparent. How are women to work, educate and empower themselves, and raise their children in a healthy environment if their basic needs are not met, if they do not have a home fire?

Women are not asking for much. They are asking for simple things like a door on their home that opens outwards so it will not be busted open. They are asking for childcare so they can educate themselves and find paid work. They are asking for affordable and healthy food so they will not get sick. The women wrote letters to MLA Oscar Lathin and asked that their concerns be addressed through government spending.

The following ideas were generated by workshop participants as part of our gender budget consultations. Please note that this list does not represent the official position of the UN Platform for Action Committee Manitoba (UNPAC). Neither UNPAC nor all of the participants have endorsed these suggestions.

1. What are key concerns for women in your community?

• Housing
• Childcare
• Jobs
• Food

2. What Government programs and services have really worked to meet women’s needs and concerns? How could they be expanded upon or made better?

• Baby and Me – Best Beginnings (6 months) – Could be longer, at least until finished breastfeeding, more publicity needed.
• Aboriginal Headstart – Waiting List
• Family Resource Centre
• Friendship Centre
• Aurora House Women's Shelter – although cannot enroll children in school (no address)
  • In Thompson a tutor comes to the shelter

3. What other ideas do you have for programs and services that could meet women’s needs?

• HOUSING
  • Housing Co-ops – how to get this going? takes so much time and only volunteers to do the work
  • Duplexes
  • Homeless Shelter – “motel” style, kitchenettes, reduces “dorm” style insecurity
  • IDEAL SAFE HOUSING – solid doors and locks: doors open to outside
    — Invisible homelessness – 3-4 families in one house
  • New development in community but only large and private, not affordable to all
  • Social Assistance does not cover housing costs
  • Homes must be big enough and suitable for family size
  • Habitat for Humanity built one home in The Pas
  • There is the mentality here that if you own your own home you will take better care of it
  • MB Housing
    — up to four year waiting list
    — must “pester” constantly to get anywhere
    — too many forms
    — repairs are constantly being stalled
    — insensitive and discriminating communication issues with staff
• CHILDCARE
  • Everything’s a waiting list
  • Only day time hours
  • Childcare should be:
    — Culturally-appropriate
    — Accommodate shift work
    — More registered spaces
    — More infant and toddler spaces
    — Transportation to and from — vans with seatbelts and kids’ seats (not buses)
  • FOOD
    — Small community means that food is more difficult to access — affordability, limited resources
• RECREATION PROGRAMS
  • Youth programs, healthy kids
  • In the Yukon a program called SPORTYUKON gives grants for bikes, sporting activities, etc.
• EMPOWERMENT
  • Back in the 70s/80s there was a program through HRD that seems to have disappeared – it offered self-esteem courses and pre-employment programs. It seemed to be quite effective, but is gone now.