Pilot project to clear garbage from homeless encampments in Winnipeg approved by committee

The Mayor’s Executive Policy Committee has approved a $170,000 pilot project for cleaning up garbage at encampments. The program will involve a sole source agreement with the Main Street Project, Siloam Mission, and the Downtown Community Safety Partnership, running through the end of October.

The decision follows a city report indicating that weekly cleanups could cost up to $4 million annually. In 2023, the city conducted 162 cleanups at a cost of nearly $84,000. The pilot project aims to test the effectiveness of the new approach. Results will be reviewed and reported back to the committee in November.