The Emergency Community Support Fund is a federal initiative to get funding dollars to vulnerable people within our communities, as they have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds will be distributed by local community foundations, and the Yorkton & District Community Foundation will be distributing $75,000 to charities in Yorkton and area to support their COVID-19 response.
The funds are distributed in a partnership between the Community Foundations of Canada, of which Yorkton is a member, United Way Centraide Canada and the Canadian Red Cross. The ECSF itself is part of a $350 million investment to support vulnerable populations in Canada.
Sharon Tropin with the Yorkton and District Community Foundation said the types of programs that are eligible are those that address a pressing social inclusion or well-being need caused by COVID-19 for a vulnerable population.
A vulnerable population is one that is at greater risk due to the pandemic, and can include youth, seniors, those with disabilities, caregivers, new Canadians and homeless people.
鈥淲hile we recognize that while things are somewhat returning to normal, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are going to be felt for some time yet to come, most notably among our vulnerable populations.鈥�
Speaking with local charities, she said that in the area food security is a big issue for some individuals, particularly in rural communities. Another big issue is finding ways to get services to people easier, as they have been interrupted. She also notes that COVID-19 has made technology a major way that services are continuing, and some supports are needed to assist people accessing that technology.
鈥淲e鈥檙e hoping that the local charities will identify the needs that they are seeing and apply for granting to set up programs to address those needs.鈥�
Tropin emphasizes that they are not only a Yorkton foundation, but Yorkton and district, and are actively seeking charities across the region. She notes that if they receive an application from an area covered by a different community foundation, it will be forwarded to them.
鈥淎ny of the surrounding communities, people from those communities can apply for the grants. Yorkton and District Community Foundation is interested any time in working with donors or charities from any of the communities in this area.鈥�
An advantage of having the local community foundation handle the application process is that they can do it relatively quickly, and Tropin said they will receive a response in ten days after they apply. She said that another advantage is they鈥檙e well connected with local charities and the people in charge, so they can better inform them about the process, but she emphasizes that deciding who receives a grant will be an impartial process, and a team of reviewers has been put in place.
Applicants can apply through United Way and Red Cross as well, but each application has to be for a different project 鈥� they cannot apply for multiple grants for the same project, said Tropin. The project needs to be completed by March 31, 2021.
The applications and guildelines can be found at the . Applications are open now, will be open until June 27, 2020.
