Plans to build emergency shelter in Steinbach hit snag with proposed zoning bylaw changes

Posted on February 18, 2025 by Peggy

A homelessness advocacy organization in Steinbach, Man., say an upcoming council vote on proposed changes to the city’s zoning bylaws would put their plans to establish an emergency shelter on indefinite hold.

Leona Doerksen, board chair for The INN (Initiative for Neighbourly Nights), says changes set to be debated in council next month specifically target its efforts to set up low-barrier, transitional housing at 447 Main Street, and could prevent it from ever opening.

“We’re hoping that the city council as well as the community that have concerns will be better informed,” Doerksen said.

“We’ve said right from the start that we’re concerned about the entire community … We know that when we help our most impoverished neighbours, we’re helping our entire community.”

The bylaw change revises the definition of social services facilities, adding a new one for supervised consumption sites and emergency residential shelters.

It would designate the latter as “conditional use” rather than “social service,” meaning any proposals to establish shelters would have to be approved by council and go through a public hearing. Council’s decision can’t be appealed, but applicants can re-apply after a year.

Steinbach Coun. Susan Penner said at a Dec. 3 council meeting the change would “allow those most impacted by the addition of an emergency residential shelter to have a way to officially voice their concerns,” specifically referring to The INN.

Portrait of a man wearing glasses and a suit — Michael Zwagstra, Steinbach’s deputy mayor, said Tuesday a public hearing about the change to the bylaw would give residents a chance to be heard about the housing proposal. (City of Steinbach)

Coun. Michael Zwagstra, Steinbach’s deputy mayor, said Tuesday it would give residents a chance to be heard.

“The organization has an opportunity to explain their plans and the final version of it,” in the public hearing, the deputy mayor said. “People who live and work and have businesses in the area are able to attend and ask any questions and raise concerns.”

Plans to build the shelter began about two years ago. The land for it was donated by a local businessperson.

Doerksen said The INN had permission to use it as a shelter, but the vote would mean they’ll have to apply for a conditional permit.

Definition exclusionary: Doerksen

Councillors would “decide whether or not they’re going to vote in favour of us building what we want to build, whether they’ll put conditions on or whether they’ll just outright deny us,” she said. “It’s very definitive.”

Doerksen said she’s also worried the proposed definition for the shelters could exclude some people in need, including those struggling with addictions.

A draft discussed during an open house last month states emergency residential shelters provide services to people who are homeless “due to intelligence or disaster.”

Doerksen said they should be open to anyone regardless of why they’re experiencing homelessness.

“We’ve asked them to change that definition so that it would just read that we are a service that exists to meet the needs of our homeless. Period,” Doerksen said. “Not ‘homeless due to’ and then listing descriptors of what might cause homelessness.”

Doerksen said the pushback comes from people’s misconceptions as to how The INN would work. She said that the facility would only house up to 30 people and will not have outreach services.

The property is also not near any schools, shops or other services, she said.

“If the city’s going to make their judgment in favour of the concerns of the people in the neighbourhood, it could be indefinite before we find a neighbourhood that says ‘Hey, come build here,'” Doerksen said.

The bylaw changes are part of a broader review of Steinbach’s zoning bylaws and official community plan, which happens every five years.