Two Abbotsford organizations will benefit from more than $133,000 in provincial government grants that support public-safety priorities.
The funding is part of almost $7.2 million issued across the province for community crime-prevention projects. The grants are from a combined $5.5 million in provincial civil forfeiture office proceeds and $1.69 million from criminal forfeiture proceeds.
Abbotsford Community Services was the recipient of some of these funds for three of its programs:
– $23,107 for the Sexually Exploited Youth Outreach Project to fund additional hours for its existing outreach worker;
– $70,000 to enhance the Domestic Violence Unit (DVU) for frontline victim services, training for DVU members and community partners, and clinical supervision and self-care for victim service workers; and
– $100,000 to increase the South Asian Community Resource Office’s youth gang prevention and intervention work with South Asian females ages 12 to 18.
Abbotsford Restorative Justice and Advocacy Association was the recipient of the remaining local funds. A total of $20,000 will go towards the organization’s work with Crown counsel to offer services for more serious and complex cases.
Another $5,000 will support a mentoring program for at-risk youth who are getting into conflict at school and with the law.
In all, more than 250 projects and programs throughout the province will receive a one-time grant.