COCHRANE— Awarding Big Hill Haven its largest government grant to date, Airdrie-Cochrane MLA Peter Guthrie was on hand Thursday (March 4) to present $75,000 to the non-profit.
Big Hill Haven chairperson Valerie Gilmore said it was amazing to receive the Community Initiatives Program grant, which marks the largest grant the non-profit has ever received from the provincial government.
The funds will support operations of the non-profit, including two social work positions and provides funding for a fund development position.
“It certainly takes the pressure off so we can start looking at other options for opening even more rooms or havens,” Gilmore said.
Currently, Big Hill Have has one shelter in Cochrane and due to COVID-19 have had occupancy limited to one family at a time. The organization has found alternative solutions for safe housing, but this can be expensive. For example, most hotels can be up to $100 a night.
The $75,000 relieves the pressure they feel to constantly be moving people on to the next step, providing breathing room to provide space and opportunity to aid those in need with resources and healing.
“We know that in a town of Cochrane that is a town of 30,000 plus people and the surrounding area... One room that we can only put one person in, or a woman and her family or a man and his family who are experiencing domestic violence, we know that it is just not feasible,” Gilmore said. “We know there are more people who are experiencing domestic violence and we have to help.”
Domestic abuse is 90 per cent reactive in nature, she said, and the funds will allow Big Hill Haven to now take steps to be more proactive and get out into the community in a different way to open up conversations.
Gilmore said the ultimate hope is community members will be comfortable coming to Big Hill Haven if they are experiencing domestic abuse or know someone who may need help.
“People can come to us and say, ‘I know someone,’ or ‘I’m experiencing this,’” Gilmore said. “It does give that opportunity for people to approach us and be sustainable.”
If you know someone or if you have questions about how to recognize, react and respond to domestic abuse, Gilmore encourages you to reach out to Big Hill Haven at bighillhaven.com.
“Research has proven that the person that discloses if they get a negative reaction or a wall put up, they typically will not disclose for a long, long time afterwards,” Gilmore. “We can help you have that conversation so that people feel more comfortable to open up and talk about and provide those resources for them to be able to get the help that they are looking for.”
Guthrie said he has been a big supporter of the great work Big Hill Haven provides to the community. In early 2018 he met with the early founders of the non-profit and was struck by the impact they can make in the community.
“It home with some personal experience we have had in our family,” Guthrie said. “Any opportunity that I had to be able to help them out, I was happy to take.”
Support for the non-profit is more important than ever as people are under a lot of stress due to COVID-19 and its associated financial and social impacts. This can lead to unfortunate situations and makes associations like Big Hill Haven all the more important.
“[Big Hill Haven] provides not only a safe place to stay but that council, that’s an amazing thing,” Guthrie said. “I’ve always been a big supporter of theirs.”
The $75,000 in funding was made possible through the Community Initiatives Program operating grant through the Ministry of Multiculturalism and the Status of Women.
The grant has two streams for programming or operational funding. The grants awarded to non-profits supporting vulnerable populations and enhancing community engagement.
The funding from the operating grant supports the fees of organizations allowing them to continue to operate.
“There’s so many organizations that apply and only a small amount receive it. I’m very happy Big Hill Haven was a recipient,” Gilmore said.
To date, about five Community Initiatives Program grants have been awarded to different organizations in Cochrane.
Guthrie said it always a pleasure helping the community and encouraged those in need of support to reach out to his office.
“We’ll be there to help,” Guthrie said.
