Hard and Hopeful Stories at Loney Forum on

Homelessness and Public Safety

Released September 15, 2022

Winnipeg, Manitoba – Last night Winnipeggers filled a conference hall to talk about how somebody needs to do something about homelessness, crime and safety in Winnipeg.  By the nights end they were lined up donating, volunteering and taking Shaun Loney yard signs home.

One after another citizens came to the microphone to share their stories of frustration with the growing problem to the man who would be mayor of Winnipeg.

“We heard a man say he had a business in London, England for years and was never broken into. Since coming to Winnipeg he’s opened shops in St. Boniface and in Fort Garry and has been broken into three times. He said he’s ready to leave our city,” Loney said.

By a show of hands almost a half of the people in the room had had their bikes stolen, cars smashed, homes broken into or businesses robbed.

Taking to the microphone were people from North Point Douglas to St Vital to Charleswood with strikingly similar stories. They included homeowners, retired provincial politicians, seniors and youth, people who operate services for the homeless and small business owners. They were all looking for solutions to make their city better.

The most moving moment of the evening was when a former gang member and drug dealer, eloquently explained how a job at a social enterprise that Shaun co-founded turned his life around.

Loney co-founded BUILD - a nonprofit business designed to train and employ people with criminal records. It is this vast experience that Loney brings to his solutions that address safety and homelessness.

“After last night it was even clearer to me that people are frustrated by other candidates who are talking about things like firing the police chief, eliminating the police board, hiring sheriffs and arguing over helicopters. They are missing the point,” Loney said.

“The truth is that the majority of people that are committing crimes in the city are doing so over and over and over again, and will continue to do so until they get connected to the interventions that we all know work,” said Loney at the Forum explaining his plan that will lead to a 10 percent reduction in police dispatches. 

“We need to recognize that we are applying an intervention right now - it’s called traditional policing. We need to give ourselves access to new-to-police interventions to add to their options. They can choose the approach that makes the best sense considering public safety and financial impacts,” said Loney. 

Loney previously released data showing the immense burden of the rising demand put on police because people are struggling. We have an opportunity to both reduce crime and pressure on emergency services.  

The Loney campaign knows that Winnipeggers’ #1 concern is safety and homelessness. Shaun Loney will be convening another public forum Wednesday. Sept. 21st @ 7pm via Zoom. RSVP and link available at  shaunforwinnipeg.com/events