Building Safer Communities Fund (BSCF)

Call for expressions of interest (EOI)

The City of Winnipeg and Public Safety Canada are partnering to deliver the Building Safer Communities Fund (BSCF), supporting community-based prevention and intervention initiatives to reduce gun and gang violence in Winnipeg.

Organizations and City departments interested in accessing funding through the BSCF are asked to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) by June 16, 2023. Selected initiatives will be invited to submit a full application by July 7, 2023.

Description of the fund

The purpose of the BSCF is to support the development of new or enhanced community-based initiatives that address gun and gang violence in Winnipeg. Investments are intended to support community organizations and municipal departments that focus on children, youth, and young adults (between the ages of 6-26) who are involved in (or at risk of joining) gangs, and to ultimately address conditions that may lead a young person to engage in gang activity in the first place.

The BSCF allocates up to the following amounts for Winnipeg initiatives in each of the next three fiscal years, with no specified cap for individual funding requests:

  • April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024 - $1,590,448
  • April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025 - $1,590,448
  • April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026 - $908,827

Objectives of the fund

The City is seeking internal and community-based partners to deliver single or multi-year initiatives that align with one or more of the following BSCF objectives:

  • Development (and delivery if possible) of prevention and/or intervention initiatives addressing risk factors associated with gun and gang violence, including, but not limited to, mentoring, counselling, skills development, and recreational opportunities;
  • Development of a strategy on gun and gang violence;
  • Development or enhancement of data systems to support data gathering/reporting on gun and gang crime or on results achieved;
  • Development of resources or research to share knowledge, information, and/or best practices related to gun and gang violence. 

EOI submission

Interested partners are asked to submit a brief EOI letter (one to two pages) to BSCF@winnipeg.ca on or before June 16, 2023. The EOI letter must include the following information:

  • A description of your organization’s eligibility (see below).
  • An overview of your proposed initiative, including: how the initiative aligns with BSCF objectives, main activities, intended population, desired outcomes, and an estimated timeline. 
  • A description of how the initiative reflects the mandate and strategic direction of your organization.
  • A budget for the initiative including expense estimates (e.g. staffing, supplies, etc.). 

Selected applicants will be supported in the submission of a full application by July 7, 2023.

Eligibility 

Funding is available to City departments and non-profit organizations providing services within Winnipeg’s city limits and that have a track record of positive impact. Proposed initiatives can be new or existing, and should be modelled after the Public Safety Crime Prevention Inventory (CPI) and/or align with the identified BSCF objectives.  

Funding requests for existing initiatives must describe enhancements (e.g. new or enhanced services, new population served, or new delivery model).

All eligible initiatives must focus on reducing urban violence within the city of Winnipeg. 

Ineligible expenses

BSCF funding cannot be used for the following:

  • To replace goods or services currently funded by a government source.
  • Existing core activities or operational expenses. Proposed initiatives must be new initiatives or enhancements to existing programs. Funding is not intended to support an organization’s core activities or to maintain pre-existing programs.
  • Any costs already supported through existing police service agreements, including costs associated with police service salaries, incremental and general policing services. Police services and authorities are not eligible to receive funding under the BSCF.
  • Costs required to sustain an organization that do not relate to direct service delivery under the proposed initiative within this BSCF opportunity.

Additional information

These resources may assist your organization in developing a proposal:

Contact us

If you have questions, please contact BSCF@winnipeg.ca.
 

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