Hostile Vehicle Mitigation Grant

Hate-motivated Crime

An unlawful activity committed to cause damage, harm, fear, intimidate or threaten the security and property, of an identifiable individual/group, where motivation for the crime is based solely, or in part, on race, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, language, gender, gender identity or physical or mental disability.

Hate-motivated Incident

An activity with the same harmful intent as defined under “hate-motivated crime”, but which do not meet the threshold of a criminal offence.

Threat, Vulnerability – Risk Assessment (TVRA)

A formal security assessment that identifies risks at a specific site and evaluates the need for mitigation measures.

Qualified Security Consultant

A qualified security consultant preparing a TVRA should have at least five years of professional experience conducting security assessments or designing hostile vehicle mitigation measures using ISO 31000, or hold designation as a Physical Security Professional, Certified Protection Professional or Licensed Professional Engineer.

Applicant Criteria

Applicants must meet the following criteria to apply:

• Must be a private, incorporated non-profit or charitable organization
• Must own the property they intend to protect with hostile vehicle mitigation measures or demonstrate both long-term occupancy and support from the property owner
• Must serve communities at risk of hate-related incidents/crimes
• Applicant organizations and proposed projects must comply with the City of Toronto Grants Policy
• Must be in good standing with the City of Toronto. Good standing is defined as having met all terms and conditions of any prior grant agreement with the City, and not in debt or default of any other agreements with the City.
• For organizations that share spaces with other organizations, a maximum of one grant is available per address

Examples

Incorporated or charitable organizations eligible to receive funding include:

• Places of worship 
• Community organizations with activities that primarily support an identifiable community at risk of hate-motivated crime or incidents 
• Educational institutions which serve a specific cultural, spiritual or religious community at risk of hate-motivated crime or incidents 
• Child-care centres which identify with a specific cultural, spiritual or religious community at risk of hate-motivated crime or incidents

Ineligible Applicants

• Organizations that are not based within the City of Toronto
• Individuals
• For-profit businesses
• Political parties
• Grant-making organizations
• Industry or trade associations
• Publicly funded institutions such as public schools, hospitals, universities and Business Improvement Areas
• Crown corporations and government bodies
• Landlord/tenant and condominium corporations

To be eligible for the Hostile Vehicle Mitigation Grant organizations must be able to complete the following:

1. Proof of organizational eligibility (see Who Can Apply) 
2. Demonstration and attestation of potential for hate-motivated crimes or incidents to your organization. (for example: police reports, media stories or history of hate-motivated incidents or crime) 
3. Demonstration of property ownership, or attestation by property owner agreeing to HVM measures on their property, and/or an agreement by all parties where a location hosts multiple organizations that may require HVM measures
4. Must work with a Qualified Security Consultant for the procurement of the Threat, Vulnerability and Risk Assessment
5. Must provide documentation and adhere to all regulations related to HVM measures that require permits and special permissions (see Potential Permit Requirements list below)

Potential Permit Requirements

The following circumstances may require permits: 

• If the proposed HVM affects fire routes, hydrants or fire department connections contact Toronto Fire Services: tfsinspections@toronto.ca
• If HVM installation or siting may impact existing utilities consult the Toronto Public Utilities Coordinating Committee and Municipal Consent Requirements
• If the proposed HVM is located near transit shelters, tracks, tunnels or other TTC infrastructure: see TTC Developer's Guide
• If the site or adjacent property is listed in the City’s Heritage Register or designated under Parts IV or V of the Ontario Heritage Act: see Heritage Permit Guide
• If work will occur within a tree protection zone: see Tree Permit Guide
• If the proposed HVM cannot be sited on private property and encroaches onto the public right-of-way (see HVM on City Streets Guidelines) or if the installation requires construction activity within the public right-of-way: see Construction Permit Guide
• If the proposed HVM is located on private property and includes changes to the existing landscaping, a zoning review is recommended prior to installation to ensure compliance with the applicable zoning regulations and the potential need for a site plan approval: see Apply for a Zoning Review
• A building permit may also be required if the proposed HVM on private property includes alterations to a building: see When Do I Need a Building Permit

Read the Hostile Vehicle Mitigation Grant Guidelines for all the details you need for your application. Below is a summary or the steps required to complete an application and if successful, receive a grant and install mitigation measures.

STEP 1: Check Eligibility

Does your organization meet the requirements to apply, and is your organization at risk of hate-motivated crimes or incidents and believe that HVM measures are needed? 

STEP 2:  Submit Phase One Application

Create an organizational profile on the Toronto Grants, Rebates and Incentives Portal (TGRIP) and submit a phase one application in TGRIP.

Phase one applications requirements include, but are not limited to:   

• Demonstration of eligibility for the grant 
• Demonstration and attestation to the risk of hate-motivated crimes or incidents 
• Details regarding the property (including photographs) 
• Details about any HVM measures already started (if applicable and including a copy of your Threat, Vulnerability and Risk Assessment)

STEP 3:  City Staff Review & Approvals

City staff will review phase one applications. Approved applicants may proceed to further steps, based on the amount of HVM work completed to date. City staff will notify you and provide next steps, pending the review of your application. 

STEP 4:  Complete a Threat, Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (TVRA)

Use your organization’s procurement process to secure a Threat, Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (TVRA). It must be prepared by a Qualified Security Consultant.

The City’s Hostile Vehicle Mitigation on City Streets: Guidelines for Private Property Owners provides further information on credentials for Qualified Security Consultants. It is the applicant’s responsibility to verify the Consultant’s professional qualifications.

STEP 5: City Staff Review & Approvals

If HVM is recommended by a Qualified Security Consultant, submit your TVRA for review. City staff will assess the TVRA recommendations and if approved, you will be ask to submit a phase two application in TGRIP.  This will detail the remainder of the project (design, permitting and installation) and include a workplan and budget.

Please note: If Hostile Vehicle Mitigation measures are not recommended by a Qualified Security Consultant, you will be required to submit a final report to the City of Toronto to account for the funding provided through TGRIP.

STEP 6:  Submit Phase Two Application

Use your organization’s procurement process to secure the necessary quotes for the remainder of the project; submit these with your phase two application.

Please note: City staff will assess your phase two application and advise on required permits.

STEP 7: Installations

Once all the necessary permits are secured, reviewed and approved, proceed with installation of HVM measures.

STEP 8: Final Report

Once implementation is complete, submit a final report to the City of Toronto as per the requirements in your funding agreement. The final report is submitted through TGRIP.

Please Note: The City will release up to the maximum funding of $100,000 (minus the funds already provided for the procurement of the Threat, Vulnerability and Risk Assessment). Should the HVM measures cost more than the maximum amount, organizations will be responsible for securing funds to cover the remaining costs.

The HVM grant will support the following project costs if recommended by a Qualified Security Consultant and approved by city staff:

Physical Barriers & Infrastructure

• Permanent crash-rated bollards (fixed or retractable), fencing or gates
• Reinforced and crash-rated street furniture (example: benches, planters and other amenities specifically designed to stop vehicles)
• Upgrades to existing infrastructure to meet current crash-rating standards
• In some circumstances, surveillance systems and other security-related costs may be eligible if they are included as part of an HVM system and recommended by a security assessment

Planning & Assessment

• Threat, Risk, and Vulnerability Assessments (TVRA) specific to vehicle-borne threats
• Site surveys and engineering studies to determine optimal mitigation strategies

Design & Installation

• Architectural and engineering design services for an HVM system
• Construction and installation for HVM systems

Permit costs

See the list of permits your project may require in Step 6 of the HVM timeline (City Permits section of the Hostile Vehicle Mitigation Grant Guidelines on page 6).

The City of Toronto Hostile Vehicle Mitigation Grant may be combined with funding from other sources (examples: the Canada Community Security Program, the Ontario Anti-hate Security and Prevention Grant). City funding will only support costs not already funded by other sources.

Ineligible Expenses

The following expenses are ineligible under the HVM grant:

• Physical barriers and bollards that are not crash-rated or designed to mitigate impacts of intentional vehicle attacks
• Ongoing personnel costs (example: security staff)
• Costs associated with routine and ongoing maintenance of existing barriers and systems (including surveillance systems)
• Salaries, wages and benefits for organizational staff overseeing the HVM process
• Core or ongoing organizational operating expenses
• Any security measures that do not respond to specific hostile vehicle mitigation measures identified in the TVRA. Applicants that have already completed a project started after December 17, 2024, may receive an exemption to the TVRA requirement.
• Projects that do not meet City construction requirements and approvals (see Step 6: City Permits in the Hostile Vehicle Mitigation Grant Guidelines)

Applications are accepted through the Toronto Grants, Rebates and Incentives Portal (TGRIP). Organizations must complete an organizational profile before the grant application may be submitted.

Set Up an Account or Log In to TGRIP Account

• If your organization already has a TGRIP account, you can log into your TGRIP account to access the HVM Grant application, found under “My Funding Opportunities”.  Please make sure to update your organizational profile if any information has changed since you last logged in. 
• If your organization does not have a TGRIP account, you will need to sign-up/register your organization in TGRIP.  Review the instructions on Guide to Applying for Grants in TGRIP before you begin your application.

Finding the HVM Grant in TGRIP

Once you have logged into or created your TGRIP account and updated your organizational profile you can then access the HVM Grant application form by clicking on the “My Funding Opportunities” tile and finding the HVM Grant application listed there.

Please Note: Only one application per address is permitted. Only eligible and complete applications will be considered for funding.

Drop-in information sessions will be held virtually for all interested applicants to learn more about the grant requirements and eligibility. No pre-registration is required.