Details of the promsed $234,100 in Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) funding for three Durham non-profits were announced in Bowmanville, Clarington, on Tuesday.
The total grant amount was revealed in August (see below). Yesterday, the breakdown was announced as:
- Autism Home Base (AHB) ($26,300),
- Bethesda House ($25,600) and
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Durham ($182,200)
The grants run for a period of one year.
“Organizations like Autism Home Base, Bethesda House, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Durham are more than just services – they are lifelines in our community,” said Todd McCarthy, MPP for Durham. “This financial support will ensure these vital institutions can continue enriching the lives of residents across Durham for years to come.”
Besthesda House, which is receiving $26,500, had appealed in an interview with Durham Post for $200,000 this year to run its women and children’s shelter (see below).
How the money will be used
Autism Home Base will be using its $26,300 grant to replace the flooring throughout the Autism Hub where autistic adults and their families meet for social, recreational and wellness programs. The project supports the health and safety of participants, along with enhancing the comfort and beautification of the space.
Autism Home Base provides safe, adapted social and recreational opportunities through which autistic adults and their families may explore new interests and connect with a supportive peer community. Through virtual, community-based, and on-site programs at Autism Hub, located in Bowmanville, is
building a community for the often-overlooked adults still living at home with family caregivers.
Bethesda House has used its six-month, $25,600 capital grant to buy and install four new furnaces in its emergency shelter and outreach building, making the buildings more comfortable and energy efficient for the women and children experiencing violence who use Bethesda House’s services.
Bethesda House is a violence against women program which includes an emergency shelter for women and their children, a transitional housing and support program, a community counsellor for those not in the shelter but requiring support, a 24-hour telephone crisis line, and a youth program that supports prevention efforts in Durham Region schools and youth diversion programming. Bethesda House was the first VAW shelter in Ontario to offer pet-friendly accommodations and continues to offer this support to reduce barriers to accessing safe, secure emergency shelter.
The third group in the area to receive a Capital grant was Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Durham. It will be putting its year-long, $182,200 grant to work as it undertakes crucial upgrades to enhance the safety and accessibility of their facility and addresses structural concerns, creating a more equitable and vibrant public space.
Since 1976, Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Durham has been dedicated to providing mentorship to children and youth in Scugog, Brock, and Uxbridge Townships. It is committed to fostering life-changing mentoring relationships that ignite the power and potential of young people.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Ontario government with a mission to build healthy and vibrant communities across the province. Last year, OTF invested more than $110 million into 1,044 community projects and multi-sector partnerships. Projects aim to enhance economic well-being, foster more active lifestyles, support child and youth development, provide spaces for people to come together and connect, and create a more sustainable environment.
Visit otf.ca to learn more.
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