With hundreds more Ukrainian refugees on the way to Manitoba, long-term housing solutions a concern

As the province of Manitoba prepares to receive a charter flight of Ukrainian refugees next week, volunteers on the ground say housing for the incoming residents is a lingering concern.

Ottawa announced that the first of three charter flights of Ukrainian refugees to Canada would be landing in Winnipeg next Monday. 

"The process of trying to find them housing all at once is very daunting, and it'll be a lot of work to try to find them places to stay," said Ostap Skrypnyk of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Manitoba Provincial Council. 

Skrypnyk said the provincial government is covering the cost for the refugees to stay at a hotel for as long as it takes for them to find appropriate housing. The challenge, he says, is finding "finding good accommodations … that are up to some standards" so refugees can be on their own as soon as possible.  

The community has stepped up to assist with hosting, but Skrypnyk says it would be better for the refugees to have a self-contained unit. 

"Lots of people volunteered to host in their homes, but that's not ideal as well, because a room in a house is one thing. Having your own apartment or your own building is a whole different thing, right? It gives people independence," he said.

The surge of new refugees will have to contend with the existing demand for housing across Manitoba.

According to a February report from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, supply outpaced demand in Winnipeg by as many as 1,000 units. 

Another outstanding wrinkle, which Skrypnyk says may affect the housing situation, is the kind of financial support the refugees will receive. 

The refugees aboard the charter flight will come to Winnipeg under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel program.

Skrypnyk says despite the program being announced some time ago, "there's a lot of question marks," including "what kind of support that they're going to be able to get in the first financial support in the first several months that they're here." 

The average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Winnipeg is $1,317, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation report.

Volunteers are expected to play a significant role in welcoming and settling the Ukrainians. 

Nick Krawetz, a volunteer with the UCC, says he's confident things will be in place to welcome them.