TORONTO – The Ontario government is launching a call for proposals for new community-based projects that support survivors of gender-based violence. These initiatives will focus on preventing violence through education and awareness, building safer, healthier communities and enhancing well-being and economic opportunities for people and families.
Ontario is investing $100 million over the next three years in its four-year, cross-government action plan to combat gender-based violence, building on the province’s existing investments of $1.4 billion over four years to end gender-based violence and support victims.
“Our government is continuing to take action to end violence against women and girls in all its forms,” said Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. “We know that preventing gender-based violence before it occurs is critical to breaking the cycle of abuse. This call for proposals will fund projects that address violence and tackle its root causes. By focusing on prevention, we are working towards safer and healthier communities for generations to come.”
The call for proposals is now open until October 11, 2024. Organizations with innovative projects or approaches that help prevent or address gender-based violence are invited to apply. The province will invest in projects that respond to the needs of local communities in four key areas:
- education and awareness
- early intervention and prevention
- community planning and service integration
- economic security and financial independence
“Strengthening people’s economic security is a key part of reducing vulnerability to gender-based violence and empowering survivors to break the cycle of abuse,” said Charmaine Williams, Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity. “This investment will help more people gain financial independence and support survivors to rebuild their lives, so they and their families can live safely and securely.”
“Governments cannot wait for violence to occur to start thinking about how we can stop it,” said Minister Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth of Canada. “That is why, in addition to supporting victims, survivors and their families, we need to create communities and systems that prevent violence and create space for all people to thrive. I am pleased to see that this Call for Proposals, funded by Ontario’s $162 million agreement with the federal government through the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, is focused on prevention, education, community building, and economic security and financial independence, and look forward to continued work to end gender-based violence in Ontario.”