Newmarket homeless shelter among 4 non-profits sharing $230K in COVID relief funds

Recipients include Inn From the Cold, Aurora Historical Society, Character Community Foundation of York Region, Social Enterprise for Canada

Newmarkettoday.ca
April 27, 2021

Today Christine Elliott, MPP for Newmarket-Aurora, announced on behalf of the Ontario government that four local not-for-profit organizations will receive a total of $230,300 to rebuild and recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This grant has been provided through the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s $83-million Resilient Communities Fund.

Allocations are as follows:

• The Aurora Historical Society will receive $21,300;
• Character Community Foundation of York Region will receive $60,200;
• Inn From The Cold will receive $90,200; and
• Social Enterprise for Canada will receive $58,600.

 

“Non-profit organizations are a crucial and valued part of any community, especially here in Newmarket and Aurora where countless members of our community rely on their services every day,” said MPP Christine Elliott. “This funding will support our local non-profits as they re-imagine their programs and adopt new approaches to meet the needs of our community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our government is proud to invest in the incredible efforts of our non-profit organizations now and in the future.”

The Resilient Communities Fund provides grants of up to $150,000 to eligible non-profit organizations to cover a broad and flexible range of needs, such as:

• Mental and physical health and wellbeing supports for staff or volunteers
• Support to adapt or re-imagine program delivery and services to meet the needs of communities, employees and volunteers, incorporate new health and safety processes, or purchase new technology and personal protective equipment
• Renovations and facility updates to meet the changing needs of the communities they serve.

 

“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our government has supported those struggling the most,” said Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. “That’s why we’re proud to support programs like the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Resilient Communities Fund. This funding helps non-profits like the Aurora Historical Association, Character Community Foundation of York Region, Inn From The Cold, and Social Enterprise for Canada, adapt to the challenges created by the pandemic -- ensuring they can provide the best service possible to the people of Aurora and Newmarket, and make a positive difference in the lives of individuals and families.”

“2020 was a year of pivoting and reacting for Inn From the Cold. OTF’s Resilient Communities Fund will help Inn From the Cold emerge from the pandemic stronger, more focused, with better and more effective solutions to homelessness, ”said Ann Watson, executive director, Inn From the Cold.

“Trillium has always provided an essential and necessary resource for not for profit organizations working to support local community. Infrastructure funding remains a challenge in times of COVID, these funds will ensure our work to support over 25,000 individual York residents per year continues. SEC remains appreciative of the Province of Ontario Trillium funds that will ensure our staff and clients remain safe in these challenging times,” said Patricia Cousins, CEO, Social Enterprise for Canada.

“I cannot begin to describe the impact this Ontario Trillium Foundation grant will have on our organization and our community. This grant allows our organization to address racism and discrimination by pivoting our Social Justice Days program to virtual program delivery through a bi-weekly podcast, increasing our capacity to provide children and youth across York Region with the character development skills and community supports they require to overcome barriers, make positive life decisions, and become community leaders. Thank you to the Province of Ontario and the Ontario Trillium Foundation for investing in our organization and in our children and youth,” said Susanne Cappuccitti, Executive Director, Character Community York Region

"The Aurora Historical Society is grateful to be the recipient of a Resilient Communities Fund Grant. As the owner and operator of Hillary House National Historic Site, the AHS strives to preserve this important landmark and deliver relevant educational programming, both virtually and in-person, wherever possible. Steadfast in our resolve to ensure this valuable heritage asset remains available to the people of Ontario and beyond, we are grateful to the Government of Ontario for their ongoing support during this difficult time and their continuing commitment to protecting the heritage of our province, " said Patricia Wallace, executive director, Aurora Historical Society.

OTF will continue to offer the Resilient Communities Fund in 2021-22 to help more eligible non-profit organizations that have been impacted by COVID-19. Application details will follow soon. For more information on the OTF’s Resilient Communities Fund, including a full list of grant recipients, please visit the OTF website

QUICK FACTS

• The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations. OTF awarded $ 94.3 million to 1,238 projects last year to build healthy and vibrant communities in Ontario.
• In 2020/2021, OTF redirected provincial funding previously allocated for the 2020 Grow and Capital grant streams into the $83-million Resilient Communities Fund.
• The Resilient Communities Fund has supported 1,045 projects across Ontario since it was announced in August 2020.
• Ontario is extending the nomination deadlines for the Volunteer Service Awards, the June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award for Voluntarism, and the Order of Ontario. Please visit Ontario.ca/page/honours-and-awards-volunteering and Ontario.ca/page/order-ontario for more information.