Accessible, affordable housing out of reach for some growing Brandon families

22-Oct-2026

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Some Brandon families are struggling to find an accessible and affordable home to call their own in southwestern Manitoba's biggest city.

Brandon has a serious housing shortfall. Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada says the city of 54,000 is around 1,300 units short based on current needs, while sitting at a 1.9 per cent vacancy rate. 

Families also face an increased risk of homelessness, according to Brandon's Homeless Individuals and Families Information System, a federal database system. It reported an approximate 10 per cent increase in Brandon families experiencing homelessness from January to August of this year compared with the same period in 2025.