{
  "id": 5181529,
  "title": "‘Where are they going to go?’: encampment policy blamed for homeless people sleeping outside thrift store",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/where-are-they-going-to-go-encampment-policy-blamed-for-homeless",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-02T21:55:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2026/09/02/where-are-they-going-to-go-encampment-policy-blamed-for-homeless-people-sleeping-outside-thrift-store"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Portage Avenue thrift store owner Susan Lockhart says the city's encampment ban has pushed at least 25 to 50 homeless individuals to gather near her business. The owner expressed frustration over the lack of space for the encampments, describing the scene as \"people everywhere\" and even mattresses strewn about. The city reported 275 people living in 72 encampments across Winnipeg, a decrease from last September's 700 people in 100 encampments. Additionally, 141 sites have been remediated since the city's encampment policy began in November. However, estimates suggest another 150 to 200 people are living outside of encampments, with Main Street Project's Jamil Mahmood expressing uncertainty about the exact number due to difficulties in tracking transient individuals. The policy has left little public property available for encampments, according to Mahmood. People often feel scared and confused about where they can and cannot camp, leading some to move to new locations and increasing the visible presence of homelessness in certain parts of Winnipeg. While the overall number of homeless people remains high when including those in shelters and those sleeping rough, the perception of homelessness worsening may be due to people being seen in new areas. One shelter resident recently moved into transitional housing, expressing loneliness despite being clean and fearing he may not make it. The thrift store owner hopes for a non-partisan solution between the city and province to provide dignity to those experiencing homelessness.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}