Provincial money for urban victim services

By Sharon McLeay Times Contributor

New provincial funding was announced on Oct. 19 for victim service agencies in large regional centres, designated to help people affected by criminal and violent acts.
However, no mention was made for funding of rural area victim services.
The increase in available funding will go towards police-based victim services units, support for domestic violence survivors, help for victims in court, restorative justice initiatives and expanding outreach services for Indigenous victims.
“Albertans affected by crime deserve to feel supported and respected during an incredibly difficult time. These funds will ensure programs and services can continue to support victims of crime when and where they need it,” stated Kathleen Ganley, Minister of Justice and Solicitor General, in a news release.
The province announced a $4.5 million increase to victim service agencies in Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB). Calgary and Edmonton get a bump of $200,000 in 2018-19, and funding increased to $600,000 for 2020-2023. Red Deer, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat budgets double to $300,000 and that amount continues until 2022. RMWB gets a bump from $285,000 to $300,000, continuing at that level through to 2022.
Program manager with Strathmore Regional Victim Services Society (SRVSS) said they will continue to rely on current funding avenues to help their clients.
“Unfortunately, Strathmore Regional Victim Services will not be receiving any of this money at this time; we are still currently capped at $150,000,” said Sherry Hornby. “We are hopeful that more changes will be coming which will put us in a position to receive more funding for our unit. We rely on grants, fundraising efforts and donations to keep our unit operational.”
SRVSS provides services to Strathmore, Chestermere and Gleichen detachment areas, and has helped approximately 900 individuals in 2018 to date.
SRVSS is always looking for reliable, dedicated volunteers to help in agency assignments and will continue to hold fundraising initiatives to support the needs of rural residents affected by criminal or violent circumstances. Hornby said they will hold a casino in the new year and host the annual emergency services charity golf tournament in June 2019.
According to Scott Sehested, communications adviser, Alberta Justice and Solicitor General, other grant programs are also available to assist victims of crime.
“While the new funding is specifically available to victim services units in these seven municipalities, all police-based and community agencies that provide services within the mandate of victim services have an opportunity to submit a grant application to the victims of crime program committee,” he said.
For instance, not-for-profit community organizations can apply for one-time, one-year funding of up to $250,000 per project for projects that address social issues such as family and sexual violence, through the Family and Community Safety Program.