Federal, provincial governments launch 2-year rent subsidy program in Brandon

The city of Brandon has been selected as a test site for a two-yearnational rent-assist program.

The Housing First Rent Supplement program was launched in the city on Friday by the provincial and federal governments, as well as by the Manitoba Metis Federation.

The program will provide upto $250 per month in rental subsidies for nearly 50 vulnerablepeople and families in Brandon who are homeless or who have been identified as at a riskof becoming homeless.

"This pilot project recognizes that many people can facechallenges finding suitable housing, even though it is often thefirst step for many people to stabilize their lives, feel safeand become a part of a community," Manitoba Families minister Scott Fielding said in a news release. "This is the first time the Manitobagovernment has partnered with a community agency on this type ofprogram and we look forward to learning more about how it affectsrecipients and their overall success."

The two-year project comes at a cost of more than $307,000.

The southwest region of the Manitoba Metis Federation will select recipients for the subsidy.