The Salvation Army in Winnipeg opened an emergency influenza pandemic clinic at its Booth Centre on Wednesday. (CBC)

Winnipeg's homeless now have a place with a roof overhead where they can recover if they get sick with the flu.

The Salvation Army opened an emergency influenza pandemic clinic at its Booth Centre, 180 Henry Ave., on Wednesday.

The message from health officials that people who get sick should stay home just doesn't work for the homeless, said Major Karen Hoeft.

So the Sally Ann has made 23 beds available for the homeless to recover in.

Jonah Young, who is living temporarily at the Booth Centre in the regular residence quarters, said the flu unit is good idea.

"For people that stay here that are in unfortunate situations when they do get kicked out of certain places, or they're homeless for a time being, they have … a place they can go to. I'm all for it," he said.

So far, no one has checked in, but more people than usual are expected to get sick with the second wave of swine flu, also known as the H1N1 virus, beginning to show up in Manitoba, said Hoeft.