A young woman points to a laptop screen while sitting beside her friend.
COVID-19

Resources & Information

This page contains resources for workers if they need to access assistance related to healthcare, income support, rent payment, emergency housing, food support, or domestic violence.

If you are a worker and you want more information on your Right to Refuse Dangerous Work, the Province of Manitoba has added new information regarding COVID-19 and the Right to Refuse Dangerous Work on their website which outlines questions to consider to determine the exposure risk and information on what Workplace Safety & Health considers appropriate controls for high-risk workplaces. OHC has also created a resource on practical social distancing recommendations and guidelines for workers and workplaces.

Are you concerned you have COVID-19 symptoms?

Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 can be tested. Information about the online covid-19 screening tool can be found here:

Online Screening Tool

Testing for covid-19 is recommended when a positive or negative result will inform decisions about your treatment or care, or for certain workplace settings.

Information for Manitobans on covid-19 testing including rapid antigen tests, rapid antigen test locations, PCR tests, and symptoms of covid-19 can be found here

Isolation

For information on what is isolation and when to isolate can be found here.

Individuals who have travelled internationally must follow Federal testing and isolation/self-isolation requirements. These can be found here

Return to Work

If you are a healthcare provider visit here for provincial covid-19 resources for healthcare providers including staff return to work information

Long COVID

For information/resources on Long Covid go here

Are you experiencing anxiety, depression, or other mental health struggles and need someone to talk to?

  • Klinic Crisis Line – this province-wide phone line is available 24/7 for you to call for free and confidential counselling, support and referrals for people who are suicidal, in crisis or struggling to cope.

    Local number: 204-786-8686 | Toll-free number: 1-888-322-3019
  • Westman Crisis Services  – this service works with adults in the Brandon and Assiniboine regions, who are in a mental health or psychosocial crisis.

    Toll-free number: 1-888-379-7699
  • Interlake Crisis Services – 24 Hour Crisis Line providing telephone support for individuals in the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority who are experiencing a mental health or psychosocial crisis. Also provides information and helpful resources to individuals looking for themselves or someone else.

    Toll-free number:  1-888-310-4593
  • Southern Health Crisis Services – 24 Hour Crisis Line providing community citizens of all ages experiencing a mental health or psychosocial crisis ongoing support, crisis intervention, consultation, referral to or suggest resources and education.

    Toll-free number:  1-888-617-7715
  • Anxiety Disorders Association of Manitoba Support Line – Support line specifically for people dealing with heightened anxiety related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Local number: 204-925-0040
    Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 9 PM | Saturday and Sunday, 10 AM to 4 PM
  • Shared Health Mental Health Mobile Crisis Service – a central point of access for adults experiencing a mental health crisis, accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

    Local number: 204-940-1781
  • Aulneau Renewal Centre – Free of charge phone counselling for community members who are isolated and experiencing anxiety during this COVID- 19 crisis. Via a phone call, you will have access to a counselor who can help you look at coping tools and resources to help you and your family during this difficult time.

    Local number: 204-987-7090

Have you been laid off work because of the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Supports from the federal government during COVID-19 are available HERE.

Community Unemployed Help Centre – Community Unemployed Help Centre is a community-based nonprofit agency that provides information, assistance, advice, and representation to individuals dealing with the federal government’s Employment Insurance program and Manitoba’s Employment and Income Assistance program. Through its public-education work the Centre informs Manitobans of their rights and obligations in relation to these programs.

Local number: 204-942-6556 | Toll-free number: 1-866-942-6556

  • Sara Riel Employment Support Line – Sara Riel, a community mental health service provider, has an Employment Support line where will be able to work through some of your questions on benefits available and resources for you to access.

    Local number: 204-237-9263 ext. 137
    Hours: 8AM to 4:30PM

Do you need help accessing free and/or affordable food?

Winnipeg-based organizations providing food baskets and/or hot meals:

  • Winnipeg Harvest – Preparing pre-packaged hampers for no-contact delivery. Contact the Food Assistance Call Centre for more information. Manitoba Health Card required.

    Local number: 204-982-3660 | Outside Winnipeg: 1-800-970-5559
    Email:appointments@winnipegharvest.org
    Hours: Monday to Friday 9:15 AM – 3:15 PM, Saturday 9:15 AM – 12:15 PM
  • 1Just City – An organization that supports three drop-in community centres in Winnipeg’s core neighbourhoods.

    St Matthews Maryland Community Ministry – 365 McGee Street (West End Commons) 

    Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 1:30 PM-4 PM

What they offer:

  • Take out lunches available for housed people experiencing food insecurity
  • Eat in lunches with access to washrooms and a space to warm up for people experiencing homelessness
  • Emergency Food Kits so families don’t go hungry
  • Food Bank

​West Broadway Community Ministry – 222 Furby Street (Crossways in Common)

Please note: This building is shared with housing for people who are at low immunity so there is no inside access.

Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday from 12:30 PM-3 PM

What they offer:

  • Take out lunches
  • Access to a port-a-potty
  • Emergency Food Kits for families

​Oak Table – 109 Pulford Street (Augustine United Church) 

Hours: Monday to Thursday from 12:30 PM- 3 PM

What they offer:

  • Take out lunches available for housed people experiencing food insecurity
  • Eat in lunches with access to washrooms and a space to warm up for people experiencing homelessness
  • Potential Access to health supports (shifts daily)
  • West Central Women’s Resource Centre – a resource centre for women and their families located in the West End of Winnipeg

Location: 640 Ellice Avenue

What they offer:

  • Bagged lunches and dinners available for pick up at the door at the following times:
    Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 12 noon to 1 PM |Tuesday, Thursday from 5 PM-6 PM | Saturday from 10 AM-11 AM
  • Sunshine House – a drop-in and resource centre focusing on social inclusion and harm reduction

    Local number: 204-788-6473
    Location: 646 Logan Avenue

What they offer:

  • Meal preparation
  • Provision of supplies
  • General social support
  • Drop in and recreation programs currently closed

Rural Manitoba organizations providing food baskets and/or hot meals:

  • Helping Hands Soup Kitchen – a local soup kitchen, with food donated from local farmers, businesses, churches, and nearby Hutterite Colonies.

Local Number: 204-727-4635Location: 111 7th Street, Brandon, MB         

What they offer:

  • Take out only during the COVID-19 outbreak
  • 4 or 5 people are allowed in at a time to preserve social distancing guidelines
  • The Salvation Army Portage la Prairie Corps Community Food Bank – Community Food Bank running all year long providing food to individuals and families that are otherwise unable to meet their needs or are struggling financially.

    Local Number: 204-239-7213Location: 220 Duke Avenue, Portage la Prairie, MB
    Hours: Open on Wednesdays for regular food bank hours during the pandemic. What they offer:
  • Emergency assistance on a case by case basis. Call for more details; leave a message for return if no answer.
  • The Salvation Army Portage la Prairie Corps Community Food Bank – Community Food Bank running all year long providing food to individuals and families that are otherwise unable to meet their needs or are struggling financially.

    Local Number: 204-239-7213Location: 220 Duke Avenue, Portage la Prairie, MB
    Hours: Open on Wednesdays for regular food bank hours during the pandemic.

What they offer:

  • Emergency assistance on a case-by-case basis. Call for more details; leave a message for return if no answer

Are you having trouble paying your rent? Does your landlord want to evict you?

For more information and help contact:

Residential Tenancies Branch Government of Manitoba: 204-945-2476

Tenant-Landlord Cooperation at the North End Community Renewal Corporation: 204-927-2335

Do you need access to emergency housing?

Local shelters providing drop-in services as well as access to social resources for permanent housing support

  • Siloam Mission Emergency Shelter – Christian organization offering temporary refuge for community members experiencing homelessness

    Local number: 204-943-1748
    Location: 300 Princess Street

Drop in currently closed during the day. Meals offered at 9:00 AM, 12:30 PM and 6:45 PM.

  • Main Street Project – community health agency operating on housing-first and harm-reduction principles offering emergency shelter for up to 60 individuals

    Local number: 204-982-8229
    Location: 75 Martha Street

    Modified drop in services during the day, to following Public Health social distancing guidelines. May open warming shelter to expand capacity for evening shelter.
  • Salvation Army Booth Centre – Christian organization offering temporary accommodations and meals for up to 250 men and women in a clean, safe and secure environment.

    Local number: 204- 946-9402
    Location: 180 Henry Avenue
  • Safe and Warm Shelter at Samaritan House (Brandon) – 10-bed emergency shelter designated for adults who experience occasional homelessness. The shelter is fully staffed with trained support workers and security guards who ensure safety and assistance for clients.

    Local number: 204-726-0758         
    Location: 820 Pacific Avenue, Brandon, MB

    Food bank is still operating with modifications for social distancing. Open 12-4 pm for people needing an indoor space with limited-time entry (30 minutes at a time) to allow all patrons to access centre.

Are you dealing with domestic violence and need access to emergency housing?

Organizations provide emergency shelter and access to supports for those dealing with domestic violence.

  • Willow Place – Emergency Shelter in Winnipeg, providing access to support, counselling, referrals and shelter

    Local number: 204-615-0311 (24/7 crisis line) | Toll-free number: 1-877-977-0007
  • A Woman’s Place – Organization operating out of Norwest Community Co-op providing assistance for women and children impacted by domestic violence with counselling and support, safety planning, protection orders, legal consults and representation. Interpreter services are available to those who need it.

    Local number: 204-940-6624 | Online or text chat available – for more information click HERE
    Hours: Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
  • A & O: Safe Suite Initiative – this initiative provides temporary housing for men and women, 55 years or older, who are in need of a safe place to stay due to abuse or neglect and whose needs cannot be effectively met by existing abuse/crisis services.

    Local number: 204-956-6440 | Toll-free number:  1-888-333-3121
  • BRANDON: Westman Women’s Shelter – an emergency shelter offering a short-term safe and supportive environment for physically, emotionally or sexually abused women and their children 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. 

    Call the Domestic Violence Crisis Line for intake: 1-877-977-007
  • THE PAs: Aurora House –a small emergency shelter providing accommodation and or counselling to women and children dealing with domestic violence.

    Local number: 204-623-7427
  • WINKLER: Genesis House – provides a confidential service, which includes a shelter for abused women and their children, residential and non-residential programs and prevention through public education.

    Local number: 204-325-9800
    E-mail: sccfv@genesis-house.ca
  • ShelterSafe – Use this tool to search for shelters near you. You are able to access information and contact numbers for a variety of shelters based on your geographical location. Provides information on availability for pets and children’s programming.