Action on mental health and addictions part of $14 million in grants approved by City Council

New investments from our Innovation Fund that support the recommendations of the Mayor’s Task Force on Mental Health and Addictions were approved today by Council, as part of $14 million in grants for 307 cultural and social organizations.

“These City investments will empower the work of many local organizations, and our Innovation Fund grants will enable action on key recommendations from our Task Force on Mental Health and Addictions,” said Mayor Robertson. “Whether it’s social policy or arts and culture, Vancouver’s continued financial support for the non-profit sector will make sure that important community needs are being met throughout our city.”

Grants approved by Council

Innovation Fund grants

Lu’ma Native Housing Society

Lu’ma Native Housing Society will receive up to $100,000 for the creation of an Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Centre that will provide an innovative approach to culturally accessible primary care and traditional healing practices for aboriginal residents. This aboriginal run and owned healing and wellness centre will shine a spotlight on Vancouver as a potential best practice in British Columbia, and was a recommendation from the Mental Health and Addictions Task Force.

Family Services of Greater Vancouver

A grant of $40,000 will go to Family Services of Greater Vancouver to develop a collective impact approach to improve supports and outcomes for youth transitioning out of foster care. Over 40 organizations and youth will be engaged to identify key gaps and issues, including those specific to aboriginal youth.

This grant responds to the Mayor’s Task Force on Mental Health and Addictions and meets the objectives of the Housing and Homelessness Strategy.

Social grants

Council approved $6,687,478 for 182 social grants to 118 non-profit organizations in Vancouver. Social Grants and the Innovation Fund help to address Council priorities, including the:

• Healthy City Strategy
• Ending Street Homelessness
• Social inclusion and safety
• The Mayor’s Task Force on Mental Health and Addictions
• City of Reconciliation
• Downtown Eastside Local Area Plan
• Marpole Community Plan
• The West End Community Plan
• Vancouver Food Strategy
• The Greenest City 2020
• The Joint Childcare Council

Culture grants

Approved was $7,708,400 from the 2015 Cultural Grants Budget for 189 arts organizations to encourage a diverse range of activities, including the performing, literary, and visual arts.

Vancouver is the largest per-capita funder of the arts of any city in Canada.

About our Culture Plan

Our Culture Plan was presented to Council in 2013, providing policy directions to support our cultural vision of a diverse and thriving cultural ecology. The Culture Plan set a framework for new models of support for the cultural community through the development of adaptable and flexible support programs, such as Annual Assistance Grants.

Restructuring cultural grant streams allows us to tailor support to organizations depending on their lifecycle and provide strategic investments during periods of organizational change. Recommendations for further strategic investments will be made later in 2015 as will grant recommendations for Community Arts, Theatre Rental Grants, and a new Artists Fund.