Resident-led groups in Toronto Community Housing communities taking part in the Violence Reduction Program (VRP) can now apply for grants of up to $2,500 per project to support communities to recover from the impacts of violent incidents.
The new Violence Prevention Grants are available for resident-led groups to run projects focused on:
Community Healing:
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Projects that help communities heal or recover from impacts of violent incidents they have experienced
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Projects that help communities promote wellness
Violence Prevention:
Projects must take place between June 14 - August 31.
Click here to view the full list of eligible communities.
Applications are due June 7, 2021, by 12 p.m. (noon)
All groups funded through this grant will need to work with a trustee organization, which will distribute the funds to them.
Note: Groups that are interested in applying for projects that respond to a single violent incident should apply to the City of Toronto's
Community Crisis Response Fund. The Violence Reduction Grant will support projects that have a broader focus; funded projects will help communities that have experienced repeated violence incidents heal or prevent future incidents.
Application:
To complete an application form, click
HERE.
Poster:
Who can apply:
The grant is open to groups that:
- Are made up of members who live in Toronto Community Housing communities that are part of the Violence Reduction Plan. Please check the list at the bottom of this flyer to see if you are living in one of these communities
- Have three or more residents
- Are not a business, registered non-for-profit, or a social enterprise
- Do not have group members that are employed by the City of Toronto
Your project must:
- Be focused on community healing or violence prevention. Here are examples of potential projects:
- Community Healing: community wellness activities (e.g., facilitated group sessions), community resilience activities, mental health support, training on trauma, therapeutic arts sessions/activities
- Violence Prevention: conflict management support, safety planning, social media awareness, education for children, e.g., resolving conflict
- Be delivered virtually to avoid the spread of COVID-19
- Be open and free for residents of the Toronto Community Housing community
Connect with a Community Services Coordinator to discuss project idea before submitting your application:
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Andrew Cox - East, Andrew.Cox@torontohousing.ca, (647) 460-4796
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David Morales - East, David.Morales@torontohousing.ca, (647) 460-4833
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Farishta Wahidi – East,
Farishta-maryam.Wahidi@torontohousing.ca, (647)746-3721
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Felicia Whtye- Central, Felicia.Whyte@torontohousing.ca, (416) 356-7603
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Jermal Humphrey - Central, Jermal.Humphrey@torontohousing.ca, (416)-554-0544
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Diandra Greaves - West, Diandra.Greaves@torontohousing.ca, (416) 670-3562
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Kwesi Kissi - West, Kwesi.Kissi@torontohousing.ca, (416) 409-3591
- Luis Mejicano - West, Luis.Mejicano@torontohousing.ca, (416) 771-1053
Note: Existing resident-led projects can apply for funding to support new pieces of work.
What you can use the funding for:
- Advertising and promotion
- Honoraria for volunteers (up to $300 total)
- Transportation - The maximum for eligible taxi receipts or mileage is $100 for the entire activity/event funding period
- Facilitator or speaker fees
- Printing (e.g., flyers)
- Project materials and supplies
- Gift certificates for people participating in the project. Gift certificates can be for participants buying food during the project (e.g., to replace meals that would have been shared if the project was in-person) or for prizes (only gift certificates from businesses that provide food)
- Volunteer expenses (e.g., food) Maximum of $50 for the entire activity/event funding period
- Other expenses on a case-by-case basis
What you can't use the funding for:
- Costs that happened before the grant was approved
- Alcohol
- Fundraising activities/events, donations to charitable causes
- Ongoing projects/programs
- Costs to maintain activities beyond the funding term
- Salaries, hourly wages and income-generating activities for staff, group members and/or mentors
- Fees paid to project partners
- TTC monthly passes
- Travel outside of the City of Toronto
- Training/education for individual group members
- Purchase of media equipment (e.g. computers or software)
- Activities related to religious and/or political purposes
Working with a Trustee:
All funded groups will need to work with a trustee. A trustee is an incorporated not-for-profit organization with the financial systems and organizational structure to administer your group's grant funds. A trustee will distribute the grant funding according to the approved project budget as well as be accountable for reporting on the grant funds to your group and the City. Trustees will have processes in place for how they provide funds and will require that your group provide receipts for your expenses. Funded groups can ask to use a specific agency as a trustee. If no request is made, funded groups will be matched with a trustee organization
Project Reports:
All funded projects will need to submit a brief report on their work.
Eligible Communities:
East Region:
Broader Lawrence East
Lawrence Valia & Meadowvale
Morningside Apartments
Morningside Ling
West Hill Apartments
Lawrence Galloway
Lawrence Orton
Lawrence Susan
Cedarbrae Manor
Victoria Park / Chester Le
Victoria Park Chester Le
Flemingdon Park
Flemingdon Park
Glenyan Manor
Markham Morningside
Malvern
Empringham Mews
Morningside Coronation (Danzig)
North Birchmount
Finch Birchmount
Sheppard Birchmount
East Finch
Shaunghnessy Blvd
Willowdale
Leslie Finch
Central Region:
Downtown East
Moss Park
Pembroke Mews
William Dennison Apartments
Dan Harrison Complex
Sherbourne Shuter
200 Wellesley
Bleecker Street
Regent Park
West Region:
Broader Jane / Shoreham
Downsview Acres
Edgeley Apartments
Edgeley Village Driftwood
Edgeley Village Shoreham
Jane Milo
Jane Yewtree
Islington St. Andrews
Islington St. Andrews
South Etobicoke
Queensway Windermere
Mabelle Place
Bloor Keele
East Mall
West Mall
Kipling Albion
Kipling Mount Olive
Martingrove Albion
Lightwood Sanagan
West Finch
Thistletown 1
Thistletown 2
Finch/Ardwick
Lawrence Heights
Lawrence Heights
Neptune Drive
Key Dates:
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Friday, May 21, 2021 at 12 p.m. (noon): Applications due
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Late May: Funding decisions announced
- June 14 - August 31: Projects are run
- September 30: Project reports due