The Manitoba government recently announced $150,000 in funding for three community mobilization hubs, with some of that money making its way to Swan River.
The hubs -- Swan Valley Community Mobilization, Winkler’s Community Care Program, and Altona’s CommUNITY Support Teams will be receiving the funding.
Justice Minister Cameron Friesen says the hubs provide a proactive approach to helping people in communities.
“This approach focuses on bringing together the agencies, organizations and supports that otherwise work alone, improving community safety, ensuring better use of police resources and putting people first. Our government is proud to be expanding this innovative program to more communities across Manitoba.”
The province is now providing support to 12 community mobilization hubs across the province.
The Dauphin At-Risk Teen (DART) program started receiving the same type of provincial funding back in 2018.
Lori Bicklmeier, coordinator at DART, says "it’s really exciting that we get to expand in other parts of the province and support other programs to do the work they do. I think systems are often hard to navigate for an individual and when you can help, it’s that much better so it’s very exciting.”
Manitoba’s Policing and Public Safety Strategy identifies community mobilization as an effective way to build local partnerships, prevent crime and help keep individuals out of the criminal justice system. Since the release of the strategy in 2019, the province has increased investment in community mobilization efforts to $1-million.
