Building Safer Communities Fund

To be eligible for the funding an agency must:

• Be an organization physically located in Peel Region or primarily serving Peel residents.
• Be mandated to provide human and community services.
• Be incorporated as a not-for-profit organization for a minimum of 2 years. The organization must be registered as a charity under the Canada Income Tax Act.
• Be governed by a volunteer board of directors that is representative of the community it serves.
• Comply with the Ontario Human Rights Code in hiring practices and provision of all of its services.
• Provide proof of insurance coverage, including but not limited to commercial general liability insurance.

Review the requirements to determine organizational eligibility for funding.

Ineligible organizations include:

• Individuals
• For-profit organizations
• Organizations acting in the capacity of a funding body
• Organizations affiliated with a political party or that have a political mandate

When you'll be notified

The application deadline is November 10, 2023, at 5 p.m. All applicants will be notified whether an application is approved or declined for Step 2 (call for proposals) by the end of November or beginning of December.

EOI assessment

EOIs will be reviewed by a committee made up of Peel Region staff and Building Safer Communities Fund Steering Committee members.

Maximum amount for funding

• Up to a maximum of approximately $275,000 per fiscal year not including the one-time startup costs.
• To not exceed approximately 20% of organization revenue.

Organizations are encouraged to consider scalability of initiatives based on different funding amounts.

Partner collaboration

Collaboration between partners is essential to the success of youth gun and gang prevention and intervention initiatives.

Current collaboration should be detailed in the EOI, although formal or informal agreements are not required to be in place for the EOI submission. The intent of the EOI is to understand the current landscape and to support future strategic planning and collaboration opportunities.

Eligible activities for BSCF

• Development and delivery of prevention and intervention initiatives addressing risk factors associated with gun and gang violence, including but not limited to mentoring, counselling, skills development and recreational opportunities.
• Development or enhancement of data systems to support data gathering or reporting on gun and gang crime or on results achieved.
• Development of knowledge to fill gaps at the community or recipient level, including research, and sharing of information or best practices related to gun and gang violence.
• Outreach and recruitment of preventative initiatives or intervention participants.
• Public awareness and education.
• Collaboration and integration of horizontal initiatives related to gun and gang violence.
• Development of a plan to sustain successful preventative initiatives or intervention activities beyond the end of the contribution agreement.
• Any other prevention and intervention initiatives as developed in consultation with the program authority.

Eligible expenses

• Salaries, wages and benefits for temporary professional, clerical, technical and administrative services, and stipends (including expenses for international staff).
• Professional and consultant costs, not limited to audit and evaluation expenses and professional fees related to the preparation of financial statements.
• Recruitment and training costs (e.g. courses, workshops, etc.).
• Costs associated to conferences, including conference room, virtual conferences and associated equipment rental.
• Reasonable Travel, accommodations and related expenses in accordance with National Joint Council Guidelines as well as bus tickets, tokens, and other reasonable participant related transportation reimbursements.
• Rent, normal utilities such as electricity, heat, water and telephone, and maintenance of offices and other buildings where the expenses are directly related to the development and implementation of the project.
• Office equipment, supplies and materials, including computers, printers and scanners, and communications equipment and associated costs.
• Minor renovations to the facility where the interventions are taking place (principally required to enhance security or to ensure program fidelity), where deemed essential for the success of the project. Minor renovations are defined as $10,000 in total or less, over the course of the project.
• Translation and simultaneous interpretation costs.
• Meals and refreshments for participants in activities and workshops directly related to the project.
• Honoraria, defined as time-limited remuneration for a volunteer service or participation in project delivery that is consistent with, and essential to the attainment of, the project’s objectives. This can include, but is not limited to, volunteer services and guest speakers; but cannot be provided for individuals whose participation in a project is already being compensated (e.g., by their employer) or is being accrued as part of an in kind contribution.
• Culturally appropriate expenditures including gifts (for a maximum of $100), community feasts, ceremonies and ceremonial meals, gatherings, and circles in accordance with National Joint Council Guidelines.

Ineligible expenses

• Replace or displace existing federal or provincial funding and cannot be used to fund ongoing core activities, which includes costs already supported through existing police service agreements (i.e. Police Advisor salaries, incremental and general policing services).
• Goods and services that, in the opinion of the Government of Canada, are normally provided by the First Nation community or by the federal, provincial, territorial or local municipal government.
• Core or ongoing operating expenses.
• Hospitality, that does not meet the eligible expenses criteria.
• Interest charges or costs of borrowing.
• Amortization.

Reporting requirements

Only organizations that are successful in Step 2 (call for proposals) and receive funding will have reporting requirements.

All approved funding recipients will be required to submit mid-term and final reports which will include both financial and non-financial indicators and narrative. Further, as a recipient of the funding, you agree to participate in a common evaluation including the collection of common indicators. You also agree to participate in the development of a region-wide Youth Gun and Gang Prevention and Intervention Strategy for Peel led by Peel Region staff.

Contact bscf@peelregion.ca for a couple of the meeting notes from the October 23rd Q&A session.