Fraser Valley/Victoria – Twenty-four BC municipalities and their community partners have received up to $50,000 in funding for initiatives that build on community wellness, safety and harm-reduction efforts related to the overdose crisis and saving lives. The opportunity was first announced by Judy Darcy, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, at the Union of BC Municipalities convention in September 2019.
“Everyone deserves to live in a healthy and safe community,” Darcy said. “We know that when people come together to identify challenges and solutions, we can create vibrant communities that put residents’ wellness first.”
Funded projects include:
- a business engagement and ambassador project in Abbotsford;
- a needle recovery program in Vancouver;
- youth harm reduction and wellness efforts in Port Alberni;
- a drop-in harm reduction and meal program in Houston; and
- an employment program in Penticton and Kelowna.
Additional projects aim to reduce stigma, while engaging and empowering people with lived and living experience of substance use.
The one-time grants are supported by the Community Crisis Innovation Fund through the Ministry of Health and will be administered by the Community Action Initiative.
This funding is part of a comprehensive investment of $746 million since Budget Update 2017 (through to 2023) aimed at harm reduction, prevention, enforcement, treatment and recovery initiatives.
Escalating B.C.’s response to the overdose crisis is a pillar of government’s actions, as outlined in A Pathway to Hope — B.C.’s roadmap for making the system of mental health and addictions care better for people. Implementing A Pathway to Hope is a shared priority with the BC Green Party caucus and is part of the Confidence and Supply Agreement.
Henry Braun, mayor of Abbotsford —
“Abbotsford has spent the past years building on efforts to address the specific needs of vulnerable people at the local level. A community wellness hub was launched through collaboration with various social and health organizations that serve our community, one of the many positive steps towards supporting broad-based community wellness. We are pleased that the Province is continuing to support municipalities and program development at the local level to support health and wellness in our communities.”
Linda Brown, mayor of Merritt —
“It is critically important to build communities that care, where everyone has value and we look out for each other, regardless of personal circumstance. In our focus on infrastructure and economic development, we must not lose sight of people. I would like to thank the Province for its funding, which will allow us to provide supports for those people in our community who struggle with mental health and substance use.”
For a complete list of funded programs, visit:
https://caibc.ca/grants-training/oerc-cai-stream-grants/community-wellness-and-harm-reduction-grants/
Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions’ Pathway to Hope:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/initiatives-plans-strategies/mental-health-and-addictions-strategy/bcmentalhealthroadmap_2019web-5.pdf
Twenty-four municipalities from across B.C. were awarded Community Wellness and Harm Reduction Grants. Funded projects will be active from March 2020 to February 2021.
- City of Abbotsford
- City of Campbell River
- City of Chilliwack
- City of Kamloops
- City of Langford
- City of Langley and Township of Langley
- City of Merritt
- City of Penticton
- City of Port Alberni
- City of Powell River
- City of Prince George
- City of Revelstoke
- City of Richmond
- City of Trail
- City of Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation
- City of Vernon
- City of Victoria
- City of West Kelowna
- Corporation of the City of Cranbrook
- Corporation of the Village of Alert Bay
- District of Hope
- District of Houston
- District of Kitimat
- District of Lake Country
