$600K for youth gang‑prevention work in Saint John
The federal government is providing $628,068 to support a youth gang‑prevention project in Saint John.
The funding, announced Friday by Saint John—Kennebecasis MP Wayne Long on behalf of Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, comes through Public Safety Canada’s Youth Gang Prevention Fund.
The money will support the John Howard Society of New Brunswick’s Youth Horizons program, which works with youth and young adults ages 12 to 24 who may be at risk of gang involvement.
Long noted that Saint John continues to face challenges related to at‑risk youth, housing and homelessness.
He explained that the federal government wants to keep communities safe by funding in prevention as well as enforcement.
“Keeping our communities safe means investing in young people and ensuring they have access to the supports they need to succeed,” he said.
He added that the Youth Horizons project will help equip youth with “tools, stability, and opportunities” that steer them toward brighter futures.
Long also highlighted the John Howard Society’s long‑standing role in supporting vulnerable youth in the region.
Program focuses on early intervention and intensive support
The Youth Horizons program centres on early intervention and aims to help young people make safer, more informed choices.
Staff will work with participants to develop personalized care plans and provide mental‑health supports, life‑skills development and intensive case management.
Public Safety Canada stated that the Youth Gang Prevention Fund supports community‑based projects that help prevent at‑risk youth from joining gangs and offer exit strategies for those already involved.
Susan O’Neill, the John Howard Society’s senior manager of operations, explained that many young people are still struggling with mental‑health and addiction needs, especially since the pandemic.
She said existing services do not always reach youth at the right time.
“We don’t seem to have the right program services at the right time for them,” she said.
“We want to be able to have something that’s intensive, integrated, holistic, that can meet those needs.”
O’Neill outlined that the program is adapted from an intensive case‑management model used by the John Howard Society of Newfoundland for adults.
The youth version includes a continuous feedback loop that allows staff to track outcomes, gather frontline insight and adjust services as needed.
Each participant will receive a psychosocial assessment and individualized support from trained case managers.
She pointed out that Saint John’s industrial history and pockets of deep poverty create unique challenges for youth in the region.
O’Neill said that former clients often return later in life as parents or community members, which she views as evidence of long‑term impact.
Bill Bastarach, the society’s executive director, emphasized that the Youth Horizons model gives youth facing serious challenges the space, trust and support needed to step away from violence and justice involvement.
He said the program’s work with families, communities and partners helps youth build life skills, stronger relationships and a sense of belonging.
The John Howard Society plans to expand the Youth Horizons model to other branches across Atlantic Canada over the next five years.
The organization says shared challenges across the region make shared solutions essential.
Public Safety Canada explains that the National Crime Prevention Strategy provides funding to projects that help prevent and reduce crime in Canada and increase knowledge about effective prevention methods.
A call for applications launched in 2024 made $123.5 million available over five years for community‑based crime‑prevention initiatives.