Half and half graphic of a black and white mountaineer assisting another climber on one half, with the text "Covid-19 Emergency Community Support Fund" on a black background on the other half

Emergency Community Support Fund: Update

June 16, 2020

UPDATE: October 5, 2020

Applications for Phase II of the ECSF are open until October 30, 2020. Please click here for more information.

The Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF)  offers grants of up to $50,000 to charities working with vulnerable populations impacted by the COVID-19 crisis in the city of Vancouver.

The ECSF is a rapid response fund program initiated by the Government of Canada through an investment of $350 million to charities and non-profit organizations across Canada. Community Foundations of Canada (CFC) , United Way Centraide Canada (UWCC) , and the Canadian Red Cross (CRC)  are working together with the federal government to deploy funding at the local level. Vancouver Foundation has partnered with CFC to deploy approximately $1.8 million in the city of Vancouver.

We will keep this page up to date with the latest information about how contributions to the Fund are supporting communities in Vancouver in response to this crisis.

THE FUND

    • Total granted out: $2.8M
    • ECSF total fund amount: $2.8M

GRANT RECIPIENTS

June 29

    • ACT – Autism Community Training Society ‘s goal is to enable parents, professionals and para-professionals to support children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder to live productive, satisfying lives within their families and communities.
    • Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House  plays a leadership role in building a healthy and engaged neighbourhood by connecting people and strengthening their capacity to create change.
    • Spinal Cord Injury BC  is dedicated to helping people with spinal cord injuries, and with related disabilities, adjust, adapt and thrive. Currently, we serve over 1,500 British Columbians with SCI, and their families and friends, by providing answers, information and unique community experiences.
    • Collingwood Neighbourhood House Society ‘s mission is to promote the well-being of the Collingwood community by providing leadership and working collaboratively with individuals, families, agencies and other groups to develop and support inclusive, innovative, sustainable initiatives and services that respond to the community’s social, educational, economic, health, cultural and recreational needs.
    • Diabetes Canada (DC)  presents a common vision: all people living with diabetes in Canada should be given the opportunity to manage their diabetes to the best of their ability and to achieve their full health potential through equal access to needed care and support.
    • Disabled Sailing Association of BC  provides opportunities for people with physical disabilities to experience recreational and competitive sailing in fully accessible sailboats.
    • Disaster Aid Canada ‘s mission is to provide and assist in delivering humanitarian aid, shelter, sustainable water systems and hygiene products to people affected by natural and other disasters.
    • Ecotrust Canada  works with rural, remote and Indigenous communities toward building an economy that provides for a healthy and resilient natural environment; sustainable and abundant energy, food, and housing; prosperous and meaningful livelihoods; and vibrant and inclusive cultures.
    • Health Initiative for Men (on behalf of the Metro Vancouver Consortium) is a non-profit society that aims to strengthen the health and well-being of gay men.
    • JustWork Economic Initiative  has provided dignified, gainful employment to people who face barriers and struggle to work in the traditional workforce.
    • Kiwassa Neighbourhood House  is a grassroots, multi-service community agency that has been providing a broad range of free or low cost social services and programs to children, youth, adults, seniors and families in East Vancouver for 60 years.
    • Mothers Matter Centre  is a virtual, national consortium of organizations dedicated to serving socially isolated and low economic status mothers and their families.
    • Pedal Foundation  promotes the use of bicycles as a healthy, affordable and environmentally sound form of transportation. We offer education in mechanical skills to empower people and to enable their access to community services and opportunities.
    • The Shoe Project ‘s mission is to advance education by providing programs, courses, workshops and seminars to immigrant and refugee women to develop their written and oral skills, as well as their leadership skills and educate the public on the problems faced by immigrant and refugee women in Canada by providing presentations on such topics.
    • WePress Community Arts Space Society  offers historic and contemporary methods of print- and art-making in a safe and welcoming space, particularly to those marginalized by systems of class, sexuality, gender, race, culture, disability, mental health, addictions, and colonization.

June 8

    • Give a Better Life Foundation  works in partnership with local organizations, we provide safe, dignified access to daily meals for Vancouver’s Downtown East Side residents.
    • Arts Umbrella Association is a non-profit arts education centre for young people with programs in Art & Design, Theatre, and Dance at locations in Vancouver and Surrey.
    • Backpack Buddies  tackles the weekend hunger gap head on by working with “buddy schools.” Students at buddy schools are responsible for raising awareness in their schools around childhood hunger.
    • Beauty Night Society  builds self esteem and changes lives of women and youth living in poverty through three streams of programming: wellness, life skills development and makeovers.
    • Childhood Cancer Canada  works to create victories for Canadian children with cancer through investment in national, collaborative, lifesaving research, empowering education and community programs.
    • Covenant House Vancouver  works to serve all youth, with absolute respect and unconditional love, to help youth experiencing homelessness, and to protect and safeguard all youth in need.
    • Food Stash Foundation works to reduce the environmental impact of food waste and bridge the food insecurity gap within our community.
    • NEC Native Education College  helps Indigenous learners realize their potential in a supportive and cultural environment. Certificate and diploma programs lead toward high-demand careers including health care, counselling, tourism, or administration.
    • Providing Advocacy Counselling & Education Society  – PACE Society is a peer-driven organization located in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver that provides support, advocacy, and education by, with, and for current and former sex workers of all genders.
    • S.U.C.C.E.S.S.  (aka United Chinese Community Enrichment Services Society) – Originally an immigrant settlement service organization, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. has since developed into a multi-service, multicultural agency that provides services in newcomer settlement, employment, community development, language training, family and youth counselling, affordable housing and seniors care.
    • The Salvation Army Anti-Human Trafficking Programs –  As the largest non-governmental provider of social services in Canada the Salvation Army has worked with exploited and trafficked individuals for more than 130 years. The Salvation Army is committed to fighting exploitation and human trafficking, championing rehabilitative care and awareness across the country by opening Deborah’s Gate in 2009, the first high security Canadian safe house and live-in program of its kind for survivors of human trafficking.
    • Urban Spirit Foundation is a charitable organization that exists to further the success and self reliance of Urban Aboriginals in the Metro Vancouver Region.
    • Vancouver Venture For Diversity Society  – works to provide critical support and services, on an individual as well as group basis, to foster children, youth and families as well as advance educational opportunities to address any special needs as well as cultural competent activities and gatherings.
    • WISH Drop-In Centre Society  – WISH Drop-In Centre Society provides support to women who work in the street-based sex trade—60 percent of whom are homeless, and half of whom are Indigenous. Our mission is to improve the health, safety and well-being of women who are involved in Vancouver’s street-based sex trade. Our vision is for every woman to have access to opportunities to make free, healthy and positive choices.
    • The YMCA of Greater Vancouver  – For more than 130 years, the YMCA of Greater Vancouver has cared for kids, shaped leaders for tomorrow and helped generations of people come together to find support, get healthier and make friends for life.

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