The Dixon Transition Society has been tasked to create more supports for domestic abuse survivors and awareness on public safety.
Today (May 18), the Burnaby organization's project is one of 121 throughout B.C. receiving a pie of a $4.3-million pie in one-time grants that were once the proceeds of criminal activity and seized by the Civil Forfeiture Office.
The Dixon Transition Society is being provided with $30,000 for healing circles set to help Indigenous women who are survivors of domestic violence.
The funding also aims to ensure Indigenous women and children feel safe in approaching, engaging or exiting the society's programs or services.
"The past two years have been incredibly challenging for everyone, but especially for low-income women of colour who face intersecting marginalization," Support Network for Indigenous Women and Women of Colour executive director Boma Brown said in a news release.
"Funds will be used to provide monthly support groups, peer support, and up to eight hours of one-on-one counselling for survivors of domestic violence. We are so grateful to the Province for supporting our efforts to ensure that women of colour and Indigenous women across B.C. live a life free of violence."
Grants were awarded among six streams:
- Gender-based violence
- Domestic violence and intervention programming
- Indigenous healing
- Human trafficking, sexual exploitation and sex worker safety
- Restorative justice
- Child and youth advocacy centres
The projects are led by school districts, local governments and other non-profit and community-based organizations.
The province says since 2017-18, the Civil Forfeiture Crime Prevention and Remediation Grant program has provided more than $43 million to help organizations throughout B.C.
