Creating Safe Havens: The Salvation Army’s Lifeline for Refugees in Winnipeg

Since October of 2023, The Salvation Army in Winnipeg has added over 150 bed spaces for refugees and asylum seekers coming to the city. Upon recognizing that the shelter system was stretched to the limits, the Winnipeg Centre of Hope carved out space for 60 beds in the fall of 2023, followed by repurposing a second Salvation Army location with an additional 80 spaces in April of 2024. The program is called 324, referencing the address and Proverbs 3:24, which says: When you lie down, you will not be afraid. When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

Related: Read about the need for refugee shelter spaces in Winnipeg 

“Our aim is to provide a place of safety, security, and peace,” explains Captain Mary Tim, program director for 324. “This isn’t a long-term solution for them – this is a stop on their journey, and they’ve had a very long journey. We want to provide them with a place where they can catch their breath a bit. Where they can feel safe and secure as they work through the paperwork involved in applying for asylum status and being able to get themselves established in Canada.”

Upon arrival, clients check in at the Winnipeg Centre of Hope, where intake forms are available in various languages, including Arabic and French. Women are given a bed in a locked room on the women’s floor at the Centre of Hope; men are assigned a bed in a dormitory setting at either the Centre of Hope or the secondary location. Families can stay together in the SonRise family shelter. Clients are provided with three meals a day, access to caseworkers seven days a week and workshops with refugee and immigrant-serving community partners three times a week.

Related: Hear the story of a refugee family’s journey to Winnipeg

Having a dedicated space to address the specific needs of newcomers is important not only so that the local houseless community can continue to receive the support it needs but also to provide newcomers with specialized supports and a sense of dignity. At the satellite location, clients have a cot and a locked bin where they can keep their belongings safe. Signage is available in multiple languages and English classes are available. There is a vibrant recreation area with games – there is almost always a lively game of dominoes going on says Captain Tim – and a television. Everyone, regardless of their background, participates in keeping the communal spaces tidy as well as in serving and cleaning up after meals, fostering a sense of community and shared responsibility.

“They band together and help out. Refugees often travel as a group because there’s safety in numbers,” explains Captain Tim. “Often they will travel together, not necessarily with people they knew before, but that they’ve met on the journey. They’re very good at supporting each other and helping out. If one doesn’t understand something, they’ll explain it.”

Approximately 160 people are currently accessing these services in Winnipeg, including roughly 10 families with two or three children. Captain Tim estimates that 70 to 80 percent of refugees come from Chad and other north and north-eastern African countries. The shelter is a temporary solution and is only scheduled to open until September. The average stay is between two and three months, and often, people move out of the shelter to live with friends or extended family or into an apartment.

Adam, a refugee from Chad who has been staying at 324 for two months, says his experience has been good despite the difficulties of his first days. He attends the information sessions and English classes three times per week and appreciates eating three meals a day and the 24-hour security on site. [Quotes translated from French.]

“During my stay the services have been excellent. When I arrived, I didn’t know anything about the administrative procedures, but with the direction from the staff Nwora, Alexis and Ashlyn, I have benefitted greatly and now I know a lot more about my asylum claim. I can help, and now I help my friends, too.”

“I thank the government of Canada in general and that of Manitoba in particular for welcoming me to this magnificent province. In addition, the people of Winnipeg are kind, and wherever you go, you will find someone who can guide you.”

Captain Tim also shared the story of Mustafa, another French-speaking individual staying in the shelter who has secured employment with Community Helpers Unite, a local food security organization that uses the kitchen space at 324.

“One gentleman was volunteering in the kitchen as a dishwasher and was there diligently every day. He always has a smile on his face. They saw what a great worker he was, and they hired him. He doesn’t really have family here, so that has become his family. He’s an example of somebody coming into Canada who just wanted to help out, now has a job, and is going to be able to establish himself and start to move forward.”