Ontario Supporting Victims and Survivors of Crime
Durham Regional Police Service will receive $150,000 to help expand services for Victims of Domestic and Gender-Based Violence
DURHAM – The Ontario government is investing more than $3 million to support victims and survivors of crime. The funding is being delivered through the Victim Support Grant (VSG) program and includes $ 150,000 for the Durham Regional Police Service.
Project C.O.M.F.O.R.T will give Durham Regional Police Service, working with Bethesda House, the ability to provide short-term shelter, without delay, to survivors of trauma associated with gender-based violence, sexual violence and human trafficking. This will provide immediate security and trauma-informed support to those who need it most.
From this investment, Victim Services of Durham Region will receive $23,000 to support the development of the Child and Youth Advocacy Centre and will work collaboratively with Durham Regional Police Service on a joint gender-based violence awareness campaign. This funding will also support collaboration between Victim Services of Durham Region, the Durham Regional Police Service, and Bethesda House for the addition of another shelter bed in Bowmanville, which can be used in acute crisis situations where Victim Services of Durham Region is on site and a victim is needing shelter immediately.
“The safety of all Durham residents, modernizing the delivery of policing services and prioritizing crime prevention and victims of crime are vital components of healthy and vibrant communities,” said Lorne Coe, MPP for Whitby, and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence, and Security. “By equipping Durham Regional Police with the resources they need, we are strengthening frontline services and ensuring more compassionate, timely, and effective support for those impacted by violence and exploitation.”
“Our government recognizes the devastating impact that crime can have on its victims and survivors,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “Through this grant program, we’re helping to ensure that victims of crime feel safe and supported.”
The Victim Support Grant is part of Ontario’s Guns, Gangs and Violence Reduction Strategy and complements the province’s $307 million Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy, 2020-2025 and Combating Human Trafficking Act, 2021.
“This investment is about ensuring families in Durham Region can count on timely, high-quality emergency care when they need it most,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, MPP for Pickering-Uxbridge. “By supporting our local emergency departments, we’re strengthening frontline services and making sure help is always close to home.”
“Under Premier Ford’s leadership, our government is investing in programs that address the root causes of intimate partner violence, and support for victims and survivors in Durham Region,” said Todd McCarthy, MPP for Durham. “This funding will strengthen the partnership between Durham Regional Police, Victim Services of Durham Region, and the Community Development Council of Durham to deliver monthly education sessions for newcomers and connect them with local resources.”
QUOTES
“Project COMFORT assists DRPS and our community partners. Victim Service of Durham Region and Bethesda House to better serve and support victims of intimate partner violence, gender-based violence, and human trafficking/child abuse. Not only does this funding support multi-sectoral teams to support these vulnerable populations, it also ensures we have the necessary tools and technology to conduct effective investigations, especially when facing increased disclosures and the use of ever-changing technology, such as cellphones.”
- Chief Peter Moreira, Durham Regional Police Service
“This funding is a vital step toward establishing the Durham Child and Youth Advocacy Centre—a safe, centralized space where children and youth who have experienced abuse, neglect, or exploitation will receive trauma-informed, culturally responsive support through the collaboration of over 30 partner agencies and led by Victim Services. In addition to supporting the CYAC’s development, the funds will support our joint efforts to raise awareness on gender-based violence and coordinate efforts to ensure families impacted by violence can access the wraparound care they need to heal.”
- Krista MacNeil, Executive Director, Victim Services of Durham Region / Durham Child and Youth Advocacy Centre
“Having immediate access to safe housing empowers victims and survivors to escape abuse the moment they’re ready. It eliminates the heartbreaking choice between safety and shelter. With shelters across the province regularly operating at full capacity, this funding is not just helpful—it’s essential for protecting lives and ensuring community safety.”
- Riley Spigarelli, Executive Director, Bethesda House
QUICK FACTS
▪ The VSG program supports victims and survivors of intimate partner violence and/or domestic violence, hate crime, gender-based violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, elder abuse and other crimes.
▪ VSG projects can include specialized training for law enforcement, culturally responsive education and awareness campaigns, and purchasing technology and equipment to enhance police investigations and provide survivors with the option to complete interviews remotely.
▪ All municipal and First Nation police services, as well as municipalities policed by the Ontario Provincial Police, are eligible to apply for funding through the VSG program.
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