Ontario Expands Anti-Hate Security and Prevention Grant for Faith-Based and Other Community Organizations

Ontario based organizations may be eligible for an Anti-hate Security and Prevent Grant. The recently expanded grant program is intended to “support communities impacted by the recent rise in hate incidents in Ontario” particularly for organizations that primarily serve Jewish and Muslim communities.

The detailed eligibility requirements and grant application are both available online. Note that the deadline of January 15, 2024 is quickly approaching.

Faith-based organizations are one of the groups potentially eligible for a one-time grant of $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000. Religious organizations eligible to apply include:

• Religious and spiritual organizations and communities (e.g. churches)
• Faith-based private elementary and secondary schools
• Faith-based private post-secondary institutions and career colleges
• Faith-based organizations whose primary activity is providing children’s and youth programming or services
• Licensed faith-based child care programs (e.g. child care centres, home child care agencies)
• Faith-based health care providers and services (e.g. wellness clinics, hospices)
• Faith-based youth care providers (e.g. group homes)
• Faith-based social service providers (e.g. food banks, group homes, victim services, services for the homeless)
• Faith-based housing providers
• Regulated and licensed faith-based long-term care providers
• Faith-bases organizations who primary activity is the arts (e.g. theatre, dance, music, media, visual, digital, multidisciplinary, literary)

Funding can be used to enhance or implement measures like building upgrades, enhancing locks, installing cameras, training staff, completing security assessments, hiring professional security, making repairs, introducing cybersecurity measures.

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be a registered charity (by December 31, 2022) or not-for-profit corporation without share capital (incorporated by December 31, 2022)
• Be operational in Ontario on December 14, 2023
• Hold gatherings of religious, spiritual or cultural significance at least once a month
• Own, lease, license or rent a non-residential indoor facility or have an event permit for hosting religious, spiritual or culturally significant gatherings
• Be in compliance with Income Tax Act and/or Canada Revenue Agency requirements
• Attest to compliance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and Criminal Code hate-related laws