Seniors

⭐ Senior Housing & Healthy Aging Initiative

 
Explore the establishment of a Senior Housing & Healthy Aging Task Force, bringing together community partners to monitor future needs, improve coordination, and advocate for additional housing and services for seniors. I want Steinbach to become one of the best communities in Manitoba to grow old in. This means enough housing, staying close to family, transportation, safety, recreation, volunteer support, home care, and planning ahead with Full-Time EFFORT. Implementation Approach: Could be very small if the task force uses existing City staff, existing council members, and volunteer community representatives

My Outreach & Follow-Up for Forum

Along with community member, local leaders, stakeholders and related organizations, I have also reached out to the Manitoba Minister responsible for seniors housing and health to discuss Steinbach's growth, seniors housing, healthy aging and related issues, and I have also invited her to participate in my Seniors Housing & Healthy Aging Forum. Its a non partisan forum where everyone is welcome.  So far, I have not received the positive response I was hoping for, including an opportunity to meet. I will continue following up. If necessary, I am prepared to visit the appropriate offices in Winnipeg to continue the conversation and, ultimately, reach out to the Honourable Premier's Office if that can help bring greater attention to these important issues.

My goal is not political confrontation—it is to keep the conversation going and pursue opportunities for Steinbach's seniors and our growing community. 

A Growing Conversation about Taskforce ( As of Aug 15, 2026)

Seniors housing and healthy aging have been my key focus from many months & community listening and planning platform since June 30th , 2026.  

— The Carillon News, July 17, 2026 - Title "Council candidate ready for city growth"  says: "Consultation and advocacy are important to Kumar who said he’d like to see a senior housing and healthy aging task force "

After door-knocking approximately 2,600 homes in Steinbach, I have repeatedly heard concerns about seniors housing, home care, transitional care, affordability and the ability to age well in our community.

I have been developing the Seniors Housing & Healthy Aging Forum for October 1 and exploring the idea of a Seniors Housing & Healthy Aging Task Force to bring community partners together to better understand needs, gaps and possible solutions.

I was encouraged to see that the City has now also begun discussing a potential health-care task force with the Province, including personal-care-home beds, transitional beds, seniors' care and home care. The Mayor indicated that the Province is open to partnering with the Steinbach region, while the City is considering research and proposals on how existing resources could better serve residents as they age.

I welcome this direction and believe collaboration, not ownership of an idea is what matters most. My hope is that the October 1 forum can add to this conversation by bringing together residents, seniors, housing providers, healthcare organizations, community groups and government representatives. My goal remains simple: listen first, bring people together, understand the gaps, and work toward practical solutions for seniors in Steinbach.

— Steinbach Online News, August 14, 2026 - Title "Steinbach steps up advocacy ........."  says:

" Funk says the city asked whether the province would be open to working with Steinbach on a health-care task force after the municipal election.

The task force could examine needs including personal-care-home beds, transitional beds, seniors’ care and home care.

“The minister is very open to hearing from Steinbach, partnering with this region, the Steinbach region, so that we can together provide quality health care for our communities,” Funk says.  "