Okanagan agencies benefit from forfeited funds

A range of social agencies and service providers in Vernon, Kelowna and the Okanagan are getting a financial boost thanks to some provincial grants.

The province announced the recipients of the 2023-24 Civil Forfeiture Grants, with a total of $8.2-million going to service providers in B.C., with a focus on aiding programs that support victims of domestic and gender-based violence.

The funding comes from the government removing the tools and proceeds of unlawful activity and redirecting them into programs that support community safety and crime prevention initiatives.

The local recipients will benefit from over over $580,000 in provincial grants. They include

• Vernon:
  • Family Resource Centre Society for the North Okanagan: $21,000 for the Male-identified and Non-binary Sexual Assault Response Program that provides immediate, short-term counselling for male and non-binary victims of sexual assault
• Vernon, North Okanagan:
  • Archway Society for Domestic Peace: $140,000 for the Oak Child and Youth Advocacy Centre‘s work providing wrap-around trauma-informed service to children and youth who have been the victim of or witness to crimes.
  • Archway Society for Domestic Peace: $39,472 for the Family Justice – Improving Supports and Outcomes program intended to support victims navigating the family justice system and ensure they can access needed resources.
• Vernon, Kelowna, Lake Country, West Kelowna, Peachland:
  • BrainTrust Canada Association: $40,000 for the Brain injury and Crime Prevention Program that focuses on identification, support and advocacy for those with brain injuries within the criminal justice system both in and out of custody.
• Vernon, Kelowna, West Kelowna:
  • Helping Out People Exploited: $40,000 for the Our Woman project, aimed at meeting the safety needs of vulnerable and exploited women living on the streets, in shelters and in supportive housing.
• Kelowna:
  • Child Advocacy Centre of Kelowna Society: $140,000 for the Child and Family Advocacy Program which serves child and youth who have been victims of child abuse, and their non-offending family members.
  • Karis Support Society: $40,000 for the Recovery Program for Woman, a residential recovery program for up to 70 women age 19 and over seeking to end substance use, criminal involvement and otherwise unsustainable lifestyles through recreational activities and counselling over the course of a year.
  • Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office: $39,827 for the International Student Support Initiative, which aims to address gender-based violence impacts on international students.
  • Central Okanagan Emergency Shelter Society: $40,000 for the Outreach Program, which provides short-term case management for women and those who identify as women experiencing or impacted by domestic abuse and cannot access the Transition House.
  • New Opportunities for Women (NOW) Canada Society: $40,000 for the Essentials-Life-Skills recovery project for victims of gender-based violence.

Money is also being provided to support programs running locally and elsewhere in the province.

• Kelowna, Province-Wide:
  • Multi-lingual Orientation Service Association for Immigrant Communities (MOSAIC): $40,000 for ScamAware, a project to protect immigrants, refugees, newcomers, seniors and socially vulnerable individuals from phone and digital frauds.
  • Canadian Mental Health Association, Kelowna: $40,000 for the Housing First 4 Youth program aimed at providing 20 unhoused people between the ages of 17 and 24 with access to housing and intensive care management, with the goals of ending their homelessness experience and reducing the risk of being involved in the criminal justice system.
• Kelowna, Vancouver, Prince George:
  • Health Initiative for Men Society: $40,000 for the HIM Community Safety Project, an initiative to provide 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and community-based organizations with education and tools needed to respond to gender-based violence
• Kelowna, Victoria, Nanaimo:
  • Supporting Survivors of Abuse and Brain Injury through Research (SOAR): $36,525 for the Together We Thrive project, an online, peer support group for survivors of intimate partner violence-caused brain injury.

These initiatives are part of 189 projects and programs throughout the B.C. being supported with the grant funding.

“Everyone deserves to live in a community that is safe, healthy and secure,” Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, said.

“That means addressing the root causes of crime and making sure victims of crime have the supports they need to thrive again. By redirecting funds from forfeited assets into community organizations and crime prevention projects, we are working toward safer and stronger communities for all British Columbians.

The funding was announced during the Victims and Survivors of Crime Week, with the province noting 79 of the supported projects involve domestic violence prevention and addressing gender-based violence.