Provincial grants to a number of local organizations are geared toward public safety, including the Nanaimo Family LIfe Association's work in supporting men looking to change their abusive habits. (Dreamstime)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

NEEDED CASH

Provincial grants provided to local groups who promote public safety and support abuse survivors

May 25, 2022 | 12:18 PM

NANAIMO — A number of local non-profits are making the most out of $4.3 million worth of provincial grant money.

The Nanaimo Family Life Association (NFLA) received $30,000 for an intervention program for men who want to change their use of abuse and violence in their intimate partner and family relationships.

Deborah Hollins, association executive director, said these intervention programs are for who recognize they need to learn more respectful behaviours in their relationships.

“These are intensive interventions that really welcome men to sit together and explore healthy ways of being in relationships that address issues around intimate partner violence.”

Men enter the program either through self-referral or in some cases NFLA is made aware of a situation through a provincial ministry or some other organization.

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The program has run for about 15 years, with a half dozen groups a year made up of around 100 individuals participating, including family members and children.

Hollins said this grant money will allow them to dig deeper into important issues which not only affect the health of the individual relationship but the community as a whole.

“Intervention programs for men have to be long-running and they also have to be open so if men feel they are backsliding or need extra support they can reach out to the agency and receive that.”

Grants came from the Civil Forfeiture Crime Prevention and Remediation Grant program which focuses on public safety programs, support domestic abuse survivors, and help Indigenous people recover from trauma.

The Nanaimo Region John Howard Society is getting just under $40,000 from the program for their programming and pandemic-related challenges.

The Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre received $30,000 to support their land and sea cultural program, which connects at-risk Indigenous youth with their traditions and culture by providing them with opportunities to work with an elder and other cultural experts.

A total of 121 projects province-wide split the $4.3 million in grant money.

The office of Civil Forfeiture works to remove proceeds of crime and puts them back into communities in the form of programs to help make them safer and aid in crime prevention

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