Emergency funding approved for Brant gender-based violence support groups
In a 5-4 vote on Tuesday night, County of Brant councillors committed $266,177 in one-time emergency funding split between four organizations supporting locals affected by gender-based and intimate partner violence.
The funds will be used by the Sexual Assault Centre of Brant, Victim Services of Brant, Willowbridge Community Services, and Nova Vita to bring on additional staff — and in one case extend a current contract.
The need for gender-based violence support services in the area has grown beyond the current capacity, organizations wrote in their initial requests to council before the February budget deliberations.
Councillors ultimately voted not to provide the requested funds at the time, deferring the requests to the joint services committee discussion with Brantford.
On Tuesday, Coun. John Bell called the move a “huge embarrassment” — something Mayor David Bailey echoed, while pointing to the county’s repeated financial support of clubs and sports teams.
Especially considering just three months earlier, they voted unanimously to declare gender-based and intimate partner violence an epidemic in a resolution put forward by Coun. Jennifer Kyle.
But Joanna Brant, executive director of the Sexual Assault Centre of Brant, said it’s “not enough” to simply declare an epidemic. “We must act,” she wrote in an email to several councillors on Tuesday, copying The Spectator.
Four councillors noted on Tuesday that while they support the cause, they couldn’t support dipping into reserve and surplus funds, especially given the strapped budget and high tax levy.
“Things can happen that are totally unexpected,” Coun. Robert Chambers said, referencing the Hamilton ransomware attack. “That’s what the contingencies are for.”
In a social media post, Coun. Lukas Oakley, who put forward the resolution for the emergency funding, said he hopes it will recognize that “meaningful and permanent action must be taken,” while helping to address the “immediate acute underfunding crisis” faced by the organizations.