The City of Toronto is accepting applications for the Youth Violence Prevention Grant to support the de-escalation of violence in priority Toronto communities. The Grant, which will be open for applications until Tuesday, April 11 at noon, will see $2.2 million in total funding allocated to approved local community agencies in priority community zones that have been identified across Toronto.
Approved applicants can receive up to $200,000 each for up to a three-year period, starting in 2023. An additional $400,000 will remain committed to the ENAGB Youth Program to continue supporting Indigenous youth via self-determined and culturally specific youth violence prevention programming in Toronto.
Youth most vulnerable to involvement in serious violence and crime (MVP youth) and those who are gang-affiliated, gang-involved and/or justice-involved are at the centre of the Youth Violence Prevention Grant. Community-led, grassroots-led programming is understood to be a highly effective way to reach MVP youth and implement violence de-escalation strategies in local communities.
The six priority zones where community agencies may be eligible for funding include:
To be eligible for the Youth Violence Prevention Grant:
The Youth Violence Prevention Grant review panel will include youth from the priority community zones who will be trained to review and recommend proposals. This training, combined with the lived experience of the youth, will help ensure funding goes directly to addressing specific needs of the Toronto communities and neighbourhoods where de-escalation of violence is needed most.
Today’s announcement marks the second call for grant applications, which was originally approved by Toronto City Council in February 2020 and immediately made available to community organizations across Toronto.
Full grant application criteria and details for this granting period are available on the Youth Violence Prevention Grant webpage.
Quotes:
“The Youth Violence Prevention Grants are an important pillar of our holistic approach to community safety and supporting youth and families. I encourage eligible organizations to apply for funding to support grassroots and community-level, community-led violence prevention and intervention programming for youth. This is one important program in our 10-year SafeTO plan, working to create a culture of violence prevention and joining and supporting the good community work that’s already being done across our city.”
– Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie (Scarborough-Rouge Park)
“Expanding the capacity of local youth programming is one of the most impactful ways we can invest in our communities and our city at large. Community and grassroots organizations are already working tirelessly to prevent youth violence in neighbourhoods. The Youth Violence Prevention Grant will further empower these organizations to reach our most vulnerable youth and help build healthy, resilient communities across Toronto.”
– Councillor Shelley Carroll (Don Valley North), Chair of the Economic & Community Development Committee
Toronto is home to more than three million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit the City’s website or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.