Two local organizations are receiving funding from the province’s civil forfeiture program.
Agassiz-Harrison Community Services Society will receive $19,956 in funding under the Community and Youth Crime Prevention category, and the Sts’ailes Community School is receiving $4,350 thanks to the Violence Free B.C. initiative.
Agassiz-Harrison Community Services is a non-profit, multi-service agency that provides over 20 different programs and services to residents living in the District of Kent and Harrison Hot Springs.
“This project provides opportunities for at risk youth to experience nature through weekend camping trips to parks within our region,” said executive director Laura Midan. “Through these camping trips, youth will be involved in recreational activities, make positive social connections with other youth, experience an increase in self-esteem and be less likely to be involved in crime due to positive social activities.”
Chilliwack-Hope MLA Laurie Throness made the announcement about the funding.
“Youth will identify with experiences that are relevant to everyday life,” said Throness. “These programs will create a sense of belonging to the community and give them life-long memories that will change their perspective while growing-up.”
This year, the priority focus for civil forfeiture grants is on initiatives that address violence against women, and support the Violence Free BC strategy. Other areas where funding was made available included serving victims through restorative justice, community and youth crime prevention, and police education, training and specialized crime prevention equipment.
Since the civil forfeiture program became active, it has returned more than $16 million from successful forfeiture actions to crime prevention grants and victim compensation payments in B.C.
Violence Free BC is the provincial government’s long-term strategy and commitment to end violence against women. Acting as a roadmap, Violence Free BC combines immediate actions with a long-term vision to end the violence, and to support women whose lives and well-being have been impacted by violence. In future years, a portion of civil forfeiture funds will be dedicated to support the Violence Free BC strategy.