We will make note of income before focusing directly on housing.
In Winnipeg a household would need to make $43,000 to afford a two-bedroom apartment, and nearly $50,000 to afford a three-bedroom. A household made up of minimum-wage earners would need 2.2 to 2.5 full-time, minimum-wage jobs to afford either of those apartments.
The rising costs of shelter have far outstripped any increases in income, including minimum wage levels, but also including rates for social assistance. In that way, housing affordability cannot be separated from income. Any poverty reduction strategy should consider how the federal government, through its social welfare policies or its training and employment programs, can encourage increases to wage levels in partnerships with its provincial counterparts or private companies.
Other worthy measures introduced at the provincial level in Manitoba include rent assist and introducing basic income. It should be noted that renters face the highest affordability burden, particularly single parents, and overwhelmingly indigenous people, on and off reserve, are over-represented in core housing need.