Local organizations supporting youth and Black women earn Ontario government funding

Two Ajax-based organizations have been awarded nearly $600,000 in provincial funding to expand programs and services supporting youth and Black women in Durham Region.

Durham Youth Services, which supports youth (16-24) in finding solutions to their housing crisis through various programs and the 13-bed Joanne’s House emergency shelter, received $429,800 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s (OTF) Grow grant stream.

Black Queens of Durham Region, which promotes empowerment, connection and trust among Black Women in Durham through a range of events and initiatives, such as pop-up markets and workshops, received $152,300.

“In Ajax and all across Ontario, non-profits are delivering critical services that enable people to train for new careers, stay active, learn new things, and connect with their community,” said Ontario Tourism, Culture and Gaming Minister Stan Cho. “This investment helps ensure local non-profit groups can build on their successes and expand in ways that benefit communities across the province.”

Applicants can apply for funding of $100,000 to $600,000 over two or three years to expand, improve or adapt an existing program or service, such as a pilot program launched last year by Durham Youth Services where housing support workers were placed in three schools in the region.

“By intervening early in a young person’s experience of homelessness, we were able to find safe and stable housing for 92 per cent of the youth we met through this program,” said Executive Director Shannon Jackson. “The generous support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation Grow Grant will allow us to grow and expand this highly effective program over the next three years, to support more youth in more schools across Durham Region. Every young person deserves a safe place to call home.”

Black Queens of Durham Region Executive Director and founder Asha Lapps said her group was “incredibly honoured” to earn the funding.

“What began in 2017 as a response to a need in our community has grown into a vibrant online network of over 13,300 members – and counting. This grant empowers us to continue supporting this phenomenal group of women and their families, not only in Ajax but across the entire Durham Region.”

“While limited resources previously constrained what we could offer, this support from OTF opens the door to enhance and expand the initiatives our community has come to expect and rely on. Thank you, OTF, for helping us grow our impact.”

The Ontario Trillium mandate is to build healthy and vibrant communities across Ontario by investing in community-based initiatives and strengthening the impact of the province’s non-profit sector. OTF administers funding programs that enrich lives through arts, culture and heritage, support development of children and youth, and provide for the economic well-being of Ontarians.

Since 2018, over $763 million has been invested in more than 7,000 projects, creating more than 9,400 full time jobs and generating more than $1.1 billion in economic benefits.

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