Closer look at Councillor Oakley’s upcoming motion

On November 28th , 2023, the County of Brant declared Genderbased violence and Intimate Partner Violence an epidemic and requested related community services to submit funding requests.

During budget deliberations discussions this year, regular funding for these services was deferred to the Joint City/ County Services Committee for further discussion as it related to the 2025 budget and beyond This has left a severe shortfall for area community service-based programs.

Paris Councillor Lukas Oakley is sharing a resolution at the Tuesday, March 26th Brant County Council Meeting. You can watch the full discussion live on YouTube.

Here’s a closer look at the specifics of Oakley’s resolution:

*Sexual Assault Centre of Brant

Funding Request #1: 24-hour Crisis and Support Line worker - $35,000

*Sexual Assault Centre of Brant

Funding Request #2: Part-Time Counsellor dedicated to adult County of Brant residents who are survivors of Sexual Violence, at risk of Sexual Violence, or who are a parent, partner, or other intimate support for a survivor$25,025

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Our own County of Brant has made a climate emergency pledge and yet our climate action plan has been delayed for years, and now last year we declared the Gender-Based Violence Epidemic. These crises are times for leadership, and to support those who are making our community a safer place to be Nothing worth doing is ever easy or without cost, and ensuring we have wrap-around services for those who are suffering from intimate partner and gender-based violence is worth doing.

I hope on Tuesday, our council rights this wrong. If you or someone you know is passionate about this funding passing as well, I encourage you to reach out to me at lukas.oakley@brant.ca and come as a delegate or submit a letter to our council agenda Lukas Oakley, Ward Two Councillor for the County of Brant

*Sexual Assault Centre of Brant Funding Request #3: Counsellor dedicated to County of Brant youth who are survivors of Sexual Violence, at risk of Sexual Violence, or who are a parent, partner, or other intimate support for a survivor - $30,165

*Victim Services of Brant Funding Request: The continuation of a Victim Services staff to work from the Brant detachment where they can directly connect and provide immediate support to people who have reported gender-based violence and intimate partner violence - $35,573

*Willowbridge Community Services Funding Request: 0.6 FTE Therapist for counselling services 0 2 FTE for women, children, and men affected by Gender-based violence and 0 4 FTE for individual, couple, and family psychotherapy for the same populations - $60,415

*Nova Vita Funding Request: Staff Position for a dedicated Rural Transitional Outreach Support Worker to address the intimate partner violence and gender-based violence epidemic in the County of Brant - $80,000.

This means a total one-time allotment of $266,177 to be funded from reserve and surplus funds.

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