Granted: Urgent appeal for funding support from Brant

By Chris Whelan

In a recent council meeting held on March 26th, Councillor Lukas Oakley put forth a critical motion for emergency funding, drawing significant attention. Nova Vita Women's Shelter, a local organization, passionately appealed to the council, urging them to reconsider the denial of funding they faced during the budget deliberations. The shelter's representatives emphasized the pressing need for financial support to sustain their vital services.

The delegation stressed that the demand for Nova Vita's services cannot be sustained solely by sporadic fundraisers or unreliable federal and provincial grants Without adequate funding and support, the consequences and costs to the community must be seriously considered

In response to these urgent needs, Councillor Oakley presented a proposed resolution during the meeting The resolution emphasizes the declaration of gender-based violence and intimate partner violence as an epidemic in the County of Brant, urging related community services to submit funding requests in November 2023 However, due to budget restraints, these requests were initially denied.

During the voting process, Councillor Robert Chambers and Councillor Oakley requested that the provisions of the motion be voted on separately, indicating support for some clauses but not all. The recorded votes on each clause listed on the agenda were facilitated by the clerk. (Council members John Peirce and Christine Garneau were not present)

The council voted on the following funding requests:

1.Sexual Assault Center of BrantFunding Request #1: 24-hour crisis and support line worker ($35,000)

-In favour: Councillor Jennifer Kyle, Councillor Oakley, Councillor John Bell, Councillor Steve Howes, Mayor David Bailey

-Opposed: Councillor Brian Coleman, Councillor David Miller, Councillor Chambers, Councillor John MacAlpine

2 Sexual Assault Center of BrantFunding Request #2: Part-time counsellor for adult Brant County residents who are survivors of sexual violence or at risk ($2,025)

-In favour: Councillor Kyle, Councillor Oakley, Councillor Bell, Councillor Howes, Mayor Bailey

-Opposed: Councillor Coleman, Councillor Miller, Councillor Chambers, Councillor MacAlpine

3. Sexual Assault Center of BrantFunding Request #3: Counsellor dedicated to Brant County youth who are survivors of sexual violence or at risk ($3,165)

-In favour: Councillor Kyle, Councillor Oakley, Councillor Bell, Councillor Howes, Mayor Bailey

-Opposed: Councillor Coleman, Councillor Miller, Councillor Chambers, Councillor MacAlpine

4. Victim Services of Brant - Funding Request: Continued support staff at Brant Detachment for immediate assistance to victims of gender-based violence and intimate partner violence

($35,573)

Councillor Chambers sought clarification on whether this funding was to maintain an existing position, as discontinuing it would result in loss of support

The motion carried unanimously

5. Willowbridge Community ServicesFunding Request: 0.6 FTE therapist for counseling services, 2 FTE positions for women, children, and men affected by gender-based violence, and 0 4 FTE positions for individual, couple, and family psychotherapy ($6,450)

-In favour: Councillor Kyle, Councillor Oakley, Councillor Bell, Councillor Howes, Mayor Bailey

-Opposed: Councillor Coleman, Councillor Miller, Councillor Chambers, Councillor MacAlpine

6. Nova Vita - Funding Request: Staff position for a dedicated Transitional Outreach Support Worker to address intimate partner violence and genderbased violence in Brant County ($80,000)

-In favour: Councillor Kyle, Councillor Oakley, Councillor Bell, Councillor Howes, Mayor Bailey

-Opposed: Councillor Coleman, Councillor Miller, Councillor Chambers, Councillor MacAlpine

The recorded votes demonstrated the council's support for allocating funds to address the urgent needs of Nova Vita Women's Shelter and related organizations The approved resolution aims to bridge the funding gap and ensure essential support is readily available to survivors of violence in the county of Brant.