Manitoba Government Improving Mental Health and Addiction Supports for Youth in Southern Manitoba

Press Release

June 10, 2025

New Integrated Youth Services Site in Portage la Prairie Will Offer Primary Care, Peer Support and Social Services in One Location: Smith, Fontaine

Youth in Portage la Prairie who are at risk of homelessness or in need of mental health and addictions treatment will soon be able to access the care and support they need in one location, Housing, Addictions and Homelessness Minister Bernadette Smith and Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine announced today.

“It is important for our youth to have a place to go and have access to the supports that they need when they need it,” said Smith. “We are not using a one-size-fits-all approach to care, we are working with young people to meet them where they are at and support them through their mental health or addictions journey.”

The Manitoba government is providing $400,000 to expand the Huddle initiative, which provides integrated mental health, addiction and overall wellness services to youth ages 12 to 29, to Portage la Prairie. The new huddle site will be co-located with Youth Connect programming, which is already being offered through the Portage la Prairie Community Revitalization Corporation.

“Youth transitioning out of care face additional challenges as they learn to navigate the systems meant to support them, which leaves them at risk of falling through the cracks,” said Fontaine. “Youth Connect can help give them the supports needed to land on their feet and build a good future for themselves in their communities.”

“The Portage la Prairie Community Revitalization Corporation is honoured to be receiving funding to increase vital supports for young people in our community,” said Mari Kozar, executive director, Portage la Prairie Community Revitalization Corporation. “Services for youth have been a long-time need in Portage la Prairie and we look forward to bridging further gaps in co-ordination with our Youth Connect program and community partners. We have seen tremendous support from all of our partner organizations to make this initiative move forward including the Portage Family Resource Centre, Portage la Prairie RCMP, the City of Portage la Prairie and Southern Health-Santé Sud.”

Youth Connect sites are Indigenous-led or partnered programs that provide navigation services to young adults who have transitioned out of care, with the primary goal of preventing homelessness. Each Youth Connect site offers housing, system navigation, case planning, culturally appropriate supports and advocacy.

There are currently two other co-located Huddle-Youth Connect sites in Winnipeg and Selkirk, with an additional site planned for northern Manitoba. The ministers noted co-locating the two initiatives at one site will ensure more comprehensive supports for youth.

The Manitoba government currently provides more than $2.4 million annually to support six Huddle sites in Winnipeg, Selkirk and Brandon, and more than $1 million annually to support Youth Connect sites in Swan Valley, Portage la Prairie, Selkirk, Winnipeg and The Pas.

The Huddle initiative is delivered in partnership with various philanthropic partners including United Way Winnipeg. United Way Winnipeg, which serves as the administrative host and provides organizational support to Huddle, has been awarded $10 million from the federal Youth Mental Health Fund to expand access to integrated youth services in Manitoba and build capacity in existing huddles.

Today’s announcement is part of the province’s whole-of-government approach to address the needs of at-risk youth while ensuring alignment, preventing duplication and maximizing resources, the ministers said.

For more information on Huddle, visit www.HuddleManitoba.ca.

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For more information:

• Public information, contact Manitoba Government Inquiry: mgi@gov.mb.ca or 1-866-626-4862 or 204-945-3744.
• Media requests for general information, contact Communications and Engagement: newsroom@gov.mb.ca.
• Media requests for ministerial comment, contact Cabinet Communications: cabcom@manitoba.ca.

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