1998 Access and Equity Grants Program and Appeals

The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee recommends the adoption of the recommendation in the following transmittal letter (June 11, 1998) from the Municipal Grants Review Committee:

Recommendation:

The Municipal Grants Review Committee on June 11, 1998, recommended to the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee, and Council, the adoption of the attached reports (May 19 and June 8, 1998) from the Chief Administrative Officer and Executive Director, Human Resources, respecting the 1998 Access and Equity Grants and Appeals.

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(Joint Report dated May 19, 1998, addressed to theMunicipal Grants Review Committee from the Chief Administrative Officerand Executive Director of Human Resources)

Purpose:

This report presents the recommended allocations of $302,000.00 for the 1998 Access and Equity Grants Program.

Funding Implications:

The allocations recommended in this report fall within the 1998 Access and Equity Grants Program approved estimates of $307,000.00.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)$302,000.00 from the $307,000.00 Access and Equity Grants Program be approved as outlined in the attached 1998 Grants Allocations (Appendix I);

(2)the $5,000.00 balance be held in reserve for appeals and the Chief Administrative Officer and Executive Director of Human Resources report to the June 11, 1998, meeting of the Municipal Grants Review Committee with recommendations respecting the allocation of this reserve; and

(3)the appropriate City officials be authorized to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

Council Reference/Background/History:

The City of Toronto Council approved on February 4, 5, and 6, 1998, the report of the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee governing the administration of grants for the transitional year 1998. In addition, City Council approved the report of the Municipal Grants Review Committee at its meeting held on March 4, 5, and 6, 1998, which recommended that, for the 1998 interim grants process, the Municipal Grants Review Committee be used as the appeal mechanism, to hear and respond to deputations by applicants. The grant recommendations are made in accordance with the Terms of Reference for Multicultural Activities approved on December 4, 1984, by the former Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto. The following information is appended to this report:

(i)1998 Grants Allocations (Appendix I);

(ii)1998 Summary of Applications and Recommendations (Appendix II); and

(iii)1998 Guidelines and Criteria for the Access and Equity Grants (Appendix III).

Program Objectives and Funding Categories:

The criteria which must be met by all requests are:

(i)to strengthen an anti-racism climate in Toronto; and

(ii)to promote respect and value for Toronto's multicultural and multi-racial character.

Requests were considered in the following three categories:

(a)Anti-Racism:

Activities such as advocacy on human rights and race equity issues, public education programs and other projects which are designed to eliminate racial discrimination.

(b)Access and Equity Development:

Activities include those that are directed at improving ethno-racial and Aboriginal access to public sector services and at facilitating access to the decision-making of public institutions so that barriers preventing equal participation are identified and eliminated. Activities which promote civic participation of ethno-racial and Aboriginal communities are also included.

(c)Anti-Hate Activities:

Activities to combat hate activity, which involve the participation of residents, communities and public institutions.

Method of Application and Assessment:

An Information Session was held on January 27, 1998, for interested applicants. The 1998 Access and Equity Grants applications were made available in January 1998 along with Guidelines and Criteria. Applications were returned to the Access and Equity Centre by February 20, 1998.

All applications included a description of the organization's purpose, the project or activity for which assistance is being sought, financial statements and budget projections. Additional documentation provided included members of the board of directors, authorized signing officers, board authorization of the grant request, audited financial statements and letters of endorsement.

Each application has been assessed based on the eligibility and funding criteria. Agencies whose activities are within the criteria and eligibility requirements of other City of Toronto's grant programs such as Cultural Grants and Community Services Grants program are ineligible.

The balance of applications were assessed based on the need of the community being targeted through the project, priority of the activity with respect to identified needs within Toronto, the potential long-term impact of the project, the ability to complete the project, as well as, the administrative and financial record of the organization. In addition, consideration has been given to the financial viability of the proposal, the state of development of the organization and its track record in the community, as well as its level of financial need. Other sources of funding are included in grant applications as well as funding sought and approved from all other levels of government.

Program Priorities for 1998:

The allocation of the 1998 Access and Equity Grants Program was determined in context of strategies to:

(i)maintain the delicate race relations community infrastructure that currently exists at the same time to assist new communities so that they can advocate for their unique issues;

(ii)provide organizations which have demonstrated their abilities to carry out effective advocacy on anti-racism, access and equity issues in order to maintain a diminished but sustainable community infrastructure;

(iii)support co-operation, networking and coalition building within communities and between communities and institutions;

(iv)provide support to projects to combat hate activity, including public education, data collection, victim assistance; and

(v)support projects which facilitate community access to institutions.

Comments/Discussion:

Whilst the same criteria and priorities were applied in the assessment and recommendations process as in the year 1997, a few key issues are highlighted below:

(a)the 1997 Metropolitan Police Services Hate Crime Statistics indicate that crimes motivated by hate, bias or prejudice have risen by 7 percent in 1997 over 1996 in the Toronto area. Hate motivated crimes based on race accounted for the highest number of occurrences. Blacks, South Asians, Asians, Gays and Lesbians were primarily victims of assaults. Jews were victims of mischief and threats. Of the criminal activities, 41.7 percent were assaults, 17 percent of assaults involved weapons, 27.8 percent were damage to property, 13.9 percent were threats. Hate propaganda on the internet is also increasing; and

(b)according to the York University's Institute for Social Research study, "Ethno-Racial Inequality in Metropolitan Toronto", the data shows that ethno-racial groups with the highest unemployment rates in 1991 are: Africans from specific nations (25.8 percent), Mexican and Central Americans (24.7 percent), Tamils (23.9 percent), Sri Lankans (20.5 percent), and First Nations people (19.7 percent). The study found that groups with the most unemployment are not those with the least education. Where poverty is concerned, while 19 percent of all families in Toronto are defined as living below the "low income cut-off", the data shows that the highest levels of poverty are faced by the Arabs and West Asians, Latin Americans, and Blacks and Africans at 37.4, 33.9, and 33.5 percent respectively. Aboriginal and racial minority communities have struggled to attain equitable treatment within Canadian laws and institutions, however, the disparity in access to resources is widening.

To address these issues, organizations are funded by this program to counter the spread of hate activity. Some conduct educational workshops meeting the linguistic and cultural needs of the respective communities they serve, others develop educational materials, mass media tools such as public service announcements and transit posters. Some organizations have taken a lead in Canada for providing assistance to victims of hate crimes.

In addition, two thirds of the grants are allocated to groups to advocate on behalf of disadvantaged communities. These groups are routinely consulted by different levels of government. They participate on various advisory committees in the municipal government, provincial government, federal government, universities, hospitals, policing services and broader community sector with the objective of facilitating institutional change by introducing access and equity principles at the decision making level. Issues of major concern are: access to employment, equitable treatment in the workplace, equitable treatment in the public and private housing sector, access to services in municipal government, development of knowledge to start own business.

1998 Budget Allocation and Applications:

The following statistics provide a synopsis of the funding recommendation:

RecommendationsTotal NumberTotal Recommended

Returning Applicants: Recommended27$ 291,000.00

New Applicants: Recommended 2$ 11,000.00

Applicants: Not Recommended16$ 0

Total:45$ 302,000.00

Balance for Appeals $ 5,000.00

Basis for Allocation:

Forty-five applications were received. Twenty-eight are returning applicants. In an effort to maintain the community infrastructure for anti racism and equity programs, 27 returning applicants have been recommended for funding. Out of these, six umbrella organizations have been allocated an increased amount such that each receives $12,000.00 for their co-ordinating efforts and advocacy role. These umbrella organizations are: Access Action Council, Canadian Arab Federation, Chinese Canadian National Council, Council of Agencies Serving South Asians, Coalition of Visible Minority Women (Ontario), Inc., Hispanic Development Council, the League for Human Rights B'nai Brith Canada and the 519 Victim Assistance Program.

One of the returning applicants, Partnership for Community Access has not been recommended for funding based on a mutually reached agreement as its project falls within the mandate of their umbrella organization, Coalition of Agencies Serving South Asians. A total of 16 applicants could not be recommended for funding either due to lack of funds or to their not meeting eligibility requirements. The specific reasons have been outlined in Appendix II. Two new applicants have been recommended for funding namely, Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation and Transportation Action Now, Inc.

The Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI) has been funded under the Multicultural Grants Program for several years. However, OCASI also received funding from the Community Resources Fund in 1997. Considered a sectoral planning and co-ordinating body, the agency maybe eligible under the Planning and Co-ordination Essential Community Function of the Community Resources Fund. Therefore, in preparation for 1999, staff of Community and Neighbourhood Services and the Access and Equity Centre will meet to finalize under which fund OCASI will be assisted.

The sum total of $307,000.00 allocated through the Access and Equity Grants Programs contribute to sustaining a non-profit voluntary infrastructure, without which their present work and the present fragile race relations climate would deteriorate.

A reserve of $5,000.00 is put aside for appeals. A report will be submitted to the June 11, 1998, meeting of the Municipal Grants Review Committee with recommendations respecting the allocation of this reserve.

Conclusion:

This report recommends that a total of $302,000.00 be approved to organizations which have been assessed to be eligible under the criteria of the Access and Equity Grants Program. It further recommends that $5,000.00 be held in reserve for appeals and that a report on the appeals will be submitted to the June 11, 1998, meeting of the Municipal Grants Review Committee.

Contact Name and Telephone Number:

Cassandra Fernandes, Tel: 392 3834 .

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Appendix 1

998 Access and Equity Grants Allocations

Note:Item No. 8, Cross Cultural Communication Centre received an advance payment of 50 percent equal to $20,000.00. The balance recommendation is for a sum of $20,000.00 only.

(A copy of each of the Appendices II and III referred to in the foregoing report was forwarded to all Members of Council with the agenda of the Municipal Grants Review Committee for its meeting on June 1, 1998, and a copy thereof is on file in the office of the City Clerk.)

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(Report dated June 8, 1998, addressed to theMunicipal Grants Review Committee, from theExecutive Director of Human Resources)

Purpose:

To make recommendations to the Municipal Grants Review Committee on the allocation of the $5,000.00 reserve in the 1998 Access and Equity Grants Program.

Funding Sources:

Funding is provided through the 1998 budget approved by the City of Toronto Council for the Access and Equity Grants Program.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)the appeal fund of $5,000.00 be allocated as recommended in Exhibit 1 of this report; and

(2)the appropriate City officials be authorized to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

Council Reference/Background/History:

On June 1, 1998, the Municipal Grants Review Committee considered the report of May 19, 1998, regarding the allocations of a sum of $302,000.000 to grant applicants under the Access and Equity Grants Program. It further recommended that a report be submitted on the allocation of the $5,000.00 reserve for appeals.

The following individuals representing four organizations made deputations to the Municipal Grants Review Committee at its meeting on June 1, 1998, appealing that they be considered for funding through the Appeals Reserve of the 1998 Access & Equity Grants Program.

-Ms Esther Green, Whyy Mee Family Counselling Foundation;

-Ms Lynn Cooper, Historical Connection;

-Mr. Sinniah Sibapathasundaram, Refugees and Immigrants Information Centre Toronto; and

-Ms Karen Baldwin, The 519 Victim Assistance Program.

Out of the four organizations cited above, the first three were not recommended for funding in the report of May 19, 1998. The fourth appellant requested consideration for additional funding from the appeals reserve.

Staff responsible for administering the grants program once again reviewed the grant proposals, the original recommendations, and considered the information presented in the deputations. As a result of the review, the following are the recommendations:

(1)Whyy Mee Family Counselling Foundation of Metropolitan Toronto, incorporated in 1989, is an organization that assists first time offenders, prior to, or after court appearance; assists family consultation and support on social problems, advocacy; offers assistance and intervention in domestic violence. Funding is sought for a "Youth Counselling Preventative Training" geared to ethno-specific youth and families.

Comments:

There is a substantive need for such services especially since there has been a high reporting of violence amongst youth. The organization is well established and has developed substantive programs for youth since 1989. The request for funding was for $25,000.00 in order to provide preventative training to youth. The project merits recognition, however, such a request is better served by the City's Community Resources Fund, the Criminal Justice System and the Education System.

(2)Historical Connection is situated at the Bell Centre for Creative Communications in East York, Centennial College campus. It has established an internet, African Canadian Historical Website and has submitted an application for building and maintaining of the Website, community outreach, Toronto research team and Community Database Centre consisting of information from archival centres, private collections, personal letters and interviews relevant to African history.

Comments:

The organization submitted a revised proposal requesting funding for $5,000.00 instead of the original submission for $100,000.00. Since it is a new and emerging organization, which is serving youth through the latest high technology educational medium, and is a project that has received a good response, it is recommended that seed money be given to assist the organization in leveraging for resources through other funders. It is, therefore, recommended that $3,500.00 be allocated to Historical Connection from the appeals reserve.

(3)Refugees and Immigrants Information Centre Toronto, Inc. provides settlement counselling, interpretation and translation services, and language training to refugees and new immigrants. The organization is seeking funding to implement a combination of workshops, panel discussions and community meetings dealing with the issues facing Tamil youth.

Comments:

There is a great need for services in the Tamil community. This organization is new and well intentioned and would like to offer comprehensive services to a needy population. In January 1998, the group was referred to the City's Community Services Department to submit an application to the Community Service Grants Programs as they would qualify under that criteria. As the organization is more appropriately eligible under the Community Services Grants Program, it is not recommended for funding.

(4)Victim Assistance Program of the 519 Church Street Community Centre exists to assist Toronto's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered communities against hate motivated violence, to provide assistance, information and referral to victims of hate motivated violence and abuse, and to advocate on behalf of victims with the appropriate agencies and institutions. The Victim Assistance Program seeks funding to increase the support available to victims, increase community awareness of services available, increase community knowledge of how to respond to potential or actual violence, increase information about violence to the general public.

Comments:

The Victim Assistance Program has undertaken high priority initiatives and has a good track record for completion of projects. Countering hate crimes and hate activity through prevention and partnerships is a high priority under the Access and Equity grants program. It is recommended for an additional funding of $1,500.00.

Exhibit 1:

The recommendation for the appeals reserve of $5,000.00 is based on further consideration to projects which are a high priority such as providing assistance to victims of hate crime and assistance to youth.

The recommended allocation of the appeals reserve fund is identified below:

Organizations Recommended for the 1998 Appeals Reserve Allocation:

AgencyAppeal ReserveTotal Grant

Recommended 1998

(1) Whyy Mee Family Counselling Foundation --

(2) Historical Connection $3,500.00$ 3,500.00

(3) Refugees and Immigrants Information

Centre Toronto--

(4) Victim Assistance Program of the 519

Church Street Community Centre$1,500.00$15,500.00

Total Recommendations:$5,000.00

Conclusion:

The recommendations regarding the allocation of the appeals reserve have been developed in response to agency deputations and the grants budget. Whilst the needs demonstrated by the appellant organizations are valid, substantive and serious, recommendations have been made based on the size and amount of the appeals reserve and within the parameters of the program's eligibility requirements.

Contact Name:

Cassandra Fernandes, Tel: 392-3834.