Headway in Steinbach is asking the City for a funding increase as the organization continues to provide coordinated support for at-risk youth and justice-involved adults.
During a presentation to city council, Coordinator Heidi Harder Falk highlighted the impact Headway’s programs are having in the region, particularly through initiatives like Re-START and START Families.
She noted that police involvement among participants has dropped between 35 and 57 per cent, “which provides valuable savings in police time and resources on a preventative and intervention basis.”
Harder Falk asked the City for a $10,000 grant next year, which is an increase of $2,000. Headway made the same request last spring, which was denied. The program has been receiving $8,000 annually from Steinbach for the past few years.
Mayor and deputy mayor highlight cost savings and public safety benefits
Mayor Earl Funk says Headway’s report clearly shows the value the organization brings to the community.
“When you see the numbers, they give you a snapshot of what’s happening,” Funk said. “They are reducing the activity with the RCMP — there’s less crime in their lives. They are healing families.”
Funk added that the cost savings, particularly when even one youth avoids police involvement or improves in school, are difficult to fully quantify but deeply significant. He praised the collaboration between the city, province, and Headway, calling it a “great” example of partnerships improving community wellness.
Deputy Mayor Michael Zwaagstra also spoke in support of the organization.
“I appreciate the work that Headway does,” he said. “One of the goals is to keep people out of the criminal justice system and to help with rehabilitation. That makes a huge difference, not just in their lives, but also in the lives of others who may have been impacted.”
Growing demand and rising costs lead to funding request
Harder Falk reported that in 2024, Headway worked intensively with 16 youth and 18 adults and handled over 80 consultations. She also noted that some participants come from surrounding communities within the Hanover School Division.
City council did not make a decision during the meeting, but several councillors expressed appreciation for Headway’s role in relieving pressure on RCMP, healthcare, and mental health services by intervening earlier in the lives of vulnerable individuals.
Zwaagstra acknowledged that inflation and rising operational costs make funding requests like Headway’s increasingly common.
“It’s not surprising that organizations are facing higher costs,” he said. “Grants will be determined later this year during our planning process, and we’ll certainly take the request under consideration.”