Building Safer Communities Grant Program

To address the conditions that can contribute to a young person becoming involved in crime, Niagara Region developed the Strong Futures: Youth Crime Prevention Strategy under the guidance of a multi-sectoral action table involving local youth-serving organizations.

Apply for funding

Applications for the next phase of the Building Safer Communities Fund open Oct. 19.

Building Safer Communities Fund

The Building Safer Communities Fund is entering a new funding period, with grant funding available for eligible community-based programs serving children, youth and young adults who may be at risk of gun and gang involvement.

Building on Niagara Region's previous Building Safer Communities funding, this next phase will continue to support evidence-based, community-centred initiatives that strengthen protective factors and reduce risk factors for young people.

Funding period

In anticipation of the grant program, funding will be available for a two-year fiscal period of April 2027-March 2029, preceded by start-up funding available beginning in January 2027. The start-up funding is intended to support successful applicants in preparing for program implementation before starting the first full fiscal year.

Successful applicants may receive start-up funding beginning in January 2027, subject to the completion of funding agreements and required approvals. Ongoing funding will be provided over the subsequent two fiscal years.

Eligibility criteria

To apply for the Building Safer Communities Fund, your organization or program must:

  • Be incorporated as a non-profit organization, registered charity, or urban off-reserve Indigenous-led organization, and have been in existence for at least one year. Grassroots groups are encouraged to participate as a supporting partner in a collaborative application.
  • Support children, youth and / or young adults aged six to 26 through evidence-based crime prevention programs
  • Demonstrate alignment with at least one program area of focus identified in the Gun and Gang Prevention Strategy
  • Demonstrate how the proposed program will increase protective factors and / or decrease risk factors for the target population
  • Demonstrate a trauma-informed approach to service delivery
  • Deliver all services free of charge to program participants
  • Ensure equitable and inclusive service delivery for diverse and / or marginalized populations
  • Meet all applicant eligibility requirements outlined in the application guidelines

Target population

The target population for this initiative is:

  • Children aged six to 11
  • Youth aged 12 to 17
  • Young adults aged 18 to 26

Priority populations

Priority populations for this initiative include:

  • Black youth
  • Girls and young women
  • Indigenous youth
  • Newcomer youth

Protective and risk factors

Shield

Protective factors

Protective factors are positive circumstances that can improve individual well-being and community safety, and may reduce the likelihood of involvement in crime. Examples include:

  • Good mental, physical, spiritual and emotional health
  • Strong social supports
  • Positive attachment to school
  • Stable housing
Warning sign

Risk factors

Risk factors are negative circumstances in the lives of individuals or communities that may increase the likelihood of involvement in crime. Examples include:

  • Lack of positive adult role models
  • Low self-esteem
  • Substance use
  • Family violence

Application

Applicants should ensure their proposal clearly describes:

  • The population the program will serve
  • The identified need and relevant risk and protective factors
  • Alignment with the Strong Futures: Youth Crime Prevention Strategy
  • Proposed activities, partnerships and service-delivery approach
  • Expected outcomes for participants
  • How the program will provide equitable, inclusive and trauma-informed services
  • Organizational capacity to deliver and report on the program

Assessment process

Eligible applications will be assessed based on:

  • Alignment with the Building Safer Communities Fund objectives and the Strong Futures Youth Crime Prevention Strategy
  • Demonstrated need within the target population and community
  • Evidence-informed program design
  • Ability to address risk factors and strengthen protective factors
  • Service to identified priority populations
  • Equity, inclusion and trauma-informed service delivery
  • Strength of partnerships and community collaboration
  • Organizational capacity, budget and ability to achieve intended outcomes
  • Ability to participate in monitoring, evaluation and reporting requirements

Project timeline

1
October 19, 2026
Applications open
2
November 13, 2026
Application deadline
3
November to December 2026
Review and assessment of applications
4
January 2027
Successful applicants notified and funding released, subject to required approvals and executed funding agreements
5
January 2027 onward
Funded programs begin delivery, monitoring and reporting

Programs funded by the Building Safer Communities Grant Program

During the previous funding phase, the following programs received funding from January 2024 to December 2025.

The Empower Youth program is for Black youth of all gender between the ages of 16-22 years old.

Empower Youth is a comprehensive initiative which involves a series of workshops aimed at equipping Black youth with the tools, knowledge and skills they need to thrive, make positive choices and navigate challenges.

Youth will be connected with Black role models and mentors and will also be provided with access to a therapist, as needed, to address any mental health concerns.

Organization: Future Black Female

The Family and Natural Supports program will serve youth ages 16-24 years old and is an enhancement to RAFT's Youth Reconnect program.

Youth Reconnect provides housing and case management support to youth who are at imminent risk of experiencing housing loss.

Once housing has been stabilized through Youth Reconnect, the Family and Natural Supports program will support longer term engagement with family, friends and community to ensure that future conflicts do not destabilize a young person's housing once again.

Organization: Niagara Resource Service for Youth (RAFT)

Crime Stoppers of Niagara will develop, launch and monitor a Human Trafficking Awareness Campaign.

They will work alongside community partners across various sectors, such as police, youth justice, child protection, health care, Indigenous services, newcomer and / or culturally specific services and the violence against women sector.

Organization: Crime Stoppers of Niagara

The program will provide and connect Indigenous cultural experiences with employment and life skills training for Indigenous youth (self-identifying or of status) ages 19-29 years old.

Through the program, Indigenous youth will be provided with pathways to career opportunities and / or re-engagement with education to reduce risk of involvement in crime.

Organization: Niagara Peninsula Aboriginal Area Management Board

The program is for youth ages 18-23 years old who are preparing to transition out of foster care to independent living. All eligible participants were either removed from, or voluntarily left, their family homes due to unsafe living conditions.

The Transitional Youth Program involves sessions which are designed to help youth acquire and develop the necessary life and social skills for a successful transition to independence.

Organization: FACS Niagara Foundation

The Stop Now And Plan (SNAP) program will be delivered, with various community partners, to children ages 6-11 years old and their families.

The program is an evidence-based cognitive-behavioural model that teaches children struggling with disruptive behaviour issues, and their families, effective emotional regulation, self-control and problem-solving skills.

Organization: Contact Niagara for Children's and Developmental Services

The school-based Strengthening Families for the Future program is for children and youth ages 6-17 years old and their families.

The program aims to reduce child / youth problematic behaviours, such as aggression, drug use, delinquency; increase resiliency and life skills; and improve family cohesion and communication.

The program includes child / youth classes, parenting classes and family practice classes.

Organization: John Howard Society of Niagara

The Youth Empowerment Program is for youth ages 12-17 years old.

The program is a summer day treatment program for students with substance use and / or addictions issues who participate in the District School Board of Niagara's Alternative Pathways to Education Programs, including the R.I.S.E. (Reducing Incidences of Suspension and Expulsion) Program.

Organization: Community Addiction Services of Niagara

This is a specialized outreach and mental health service for youth ages 12-26 years old using a holistic and low barrier approach to care.

A youth outreach worker will act as the initial point of care for at-risk youth in the community who need access to primary health care, mental health and addictions services, and other social services.

A youth therapist will get referrals from the youth outreach worker and use evidence-based models of care in providing youth mental health and substance use / addictions treatment, including but not limited to specialized forms of cognitive behaviour therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy and other therapeutic modalities.

Organization: Quest | Community Health Centre