Grant money supports $2.6M Women’s Place expansion
A $100,000 cash infusion from Niagara Community Foundation has Women’s Place of South Niagara about 60 per cent of the way to the final price tag of a major expansion at its main shelter, estimated to cost $2.6 million.
Thirteen charities are recipients of the first wave of grants from the David S. Howes Foundation, totalling $370,000 that will support various groups across the region.
There are 20 beds at Women’s Place’s main facility in Niagara Falls, but that number will double through the upcoming much-needed expansion expected to start in 2019.
The facility is regularly over capacity, said executive director Jennifer De Angelis.
“We’re consistently turning people away, tripling up rooms by adding cots,” she said, adding that the need to support women afflicted by violence is large in Niagara.
“The safety of women and children in our community is their right.”
Women’s Place also has a 10-bed shelter in Welland.
The Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services provides 70 per cent of Women’s Place’s budget and the remaining 30 per cent comes from grants and fundraising, primarily the three major events the organization hosts annually.
There were 35 applications made by local groups to receive the grant funding made available for the first time this year.
“The proposals submitted to us were extremely impressive,” said Niagara Community Foundation executive director Bryan Rose.
“The projects selected will have a tremendous impact and support thousands of people across the Niagara region,” he added.
Brock University has been awarded $136,000 over a three-year period for its partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association to support students on campus during times of high stress.
Foyer Richelieu in Welland will receive $100,000 over three years toward the build of a 128-bed long-term care home for residents, along with a retrofit of the existing seniors housing facility on Tanguay Avenue.
The charitable fund was created in 2017 following an $18-million gift from the David S. Howes Foundation to support post-secondary, facilities, research, health-care services, education and humanitarian issues in Niagara.
Created in 2000, Niagara Community Foundation has raised more than $50 million and has granted more than $12.6 million to a number of causes.