Winnipeg's downtown safety partnership unveils special Indigenous women's unit
'There's an overwhelming need for this,' says Downtown Community Safety Partnership's Greg Burnett
Winnipeg's six-year-old Downtown Community Safety Partnership is now expanding with the introduction of a special unit focused on working with Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit individuals on the city's streets.
Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine on Thursday introduced the unit, which is made up entirely of Indigenous women.
"I can't stress how exciting this is," Fontaine said, calling it a unique group in the country.
"It's really important that when we're working with some of the most vulnerable, marginalized citizens of Manitoba that they can see themselves reflected in the folks that are offering that support."
The DCSP began as a pilot project in 2019 and was made permanent a year later. A collaboration between the City of Winnipeg, True North Sports and Entertainment, the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service, Winnipeg police and other stakeholders, it provides social and health services.
That includes 24/7 support and non-emergency responses, as well as prevention and outreach for people on the street and those struggling with addictions and mental health issues.
Standing in front of several of the new members at the DCSP office on Hargrave Street, Fontaine said they were trained a while ago and have already been testing their chops on the job.
Eight paid staff will be part of the new unit.
On top of the training, "it is life experience that I bring," said C.J. Spence, one of the new members.
She's been involved in various ways with the social services system for 20 years.
"So I bring all of my experiences with me, and I hope to share my stories," Spence said.
"Everybody deserves to be safe when they come and visit downtown," said Fontaine, adding that also goes for those who live and work in the area.
"This new specialized unit will contribute to that safety on the streets in general, but also of the Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited individuals."
The unit was given $350,000 to launch and will receive annual funding, though Fontaine couldn't say yet how much that would be.
The initial amount comes halfway through the year and also covered the purchase of a new vehicle, as well as clothing.
"So we'll have to determine the final annual numbers," Fontaine said, adding the money comes from Mino'Ayaawag Ikwewag, a four-year strategy created in November.
That strategy includes $20 million to create "a web of supports" for Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit and gender-diverse Manitobans in an effort to prevent future MMIWG2S+ cases.
"There's an overwhelming need for this," said Greg Burnett, the executive director of the downtown safety partnership.
"We get calls every day within the community — from the community itself and from external partners who really want to engage with this team and take better, more appropriate care of Indigenous women out on the streets."