Building Safer Communities Fund
Program Description
The objective of the Building Safer Communities Fund (BSCF) is to support Municipalities and Indigenous communities in their efforts to address gun and gang prevalence by providing a determined funding allocation to put in place community led projects to combat gun and gang violence and address knowledge gaps concerning the impacts of interventions in gun and gang violence.
Gun and Gang Violence and Community Safety
Gun and gang violence remains a serious public safety concern in several Canadian communities. Young people who experience social and economic challenges, such as limited access to opportunities, community disconnection, trauma, and poverty, may be more vulnerable to gang recruitment and involvement in violent crime. Addressing these underlying risk factors requires community-based prevention strategies that support children, youth, and young adults to strengthen community connections, and provide alternatives to criminal involvement.
Community-Led Prevention Initiatives
Through the BSCF, municipalities and Indigenous communities work with community partners to deliver prevention and intervention initiatives designed to address the root causes of gun and gang violence.
Programs supported through the BSCF may include initiatives that:
- provide mentorship, outreach, and support services for youth at risk of gang involvement
- support education, employment readiness, and skills development opportunities
- deliver trauma-informed services and mental health supports
- strengthen community partnerships and local prevention networks
- support culturally grounded programming for Indigenous youth and communities
- enhance community capacity to prevent and respond to gun and gang violence
- support research, data collection, and evaluation of prevention initiatives
By supporting locally developed solutions, the BSCF enables communities to address the specific factors that contribute to violence in their regions.
Eligible Recipients
The eligible recipients are municipal governments or Indigenous communities and the Province of Quebec, via contribution agreements.
Resources
BSCF News Releases
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Government of Canada renews support for gun violence prevention initiatives across Canada
March 31, 2026 -
New funding for Greater Sudbury to support gun and gang violence prevention through the Building Safer Communities Fund
August 2, 2022 -
New funding for Six Nations of the Grand River to support anti-gang programming
July 22, 2022
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