The City of Montreal has announced today an increase in its budget for the Diversity and Social Inclusion Department starting in 2022, an important component of its commitment to fight criminality and insecurity. From now on, $5 million per year will be allocated to youth violence prevention and urban safety. This money will provide community organizations involved in prevention with additional resources and the continued certainty they need to carry out their actions on the ground.
"Maintaining safety in the city requires concerted, comprehensive and national action. We must combat gun violence on all fronts. This major, consistent support to community organizations that do essential work to promote safety in our living environments and prevent youth violence is complementary to the addition of 42 resources within the Montreal Police Service (SPVM) announced on Sunday, to fight against criminal groups. Our administration deeply believes that the fight against organized crime and crime prevention must go hand in hand. That one cannot go without the other," said Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante.
Increased funding for the community
Since 2020, the City of Montreal has invested $1 million per year in the Youth Violence Prevention Program. This year, these investments have been increased to $2.4 million to address the urgency of the situation in the northeast of Montreal. By increasing the budget of the Service de la diversité et de l'inclusion sociale to $5 million per year in support of various programs aimed at youth violence prevention and urban safety, the City of Montreal is taking a strong step to support community organizations and the boroughs in their front-line work with young people and Montreal communities.
"Community organizations are key to preventing violence and crime. By increasing their budgets, we will give them the financial resources they need to continue their work and set up projects that can change the trajectory of many of our most vulnerable youth. Our administration is proud to support community organizations in Montreal. We are acting responsibly and meeting needs where they are," said Benoit Dorais, President of the Executive Committee and Mayor of the Sud-Ouest Borough.
"Community organizations are on the front lines of prevention, supporting the young and vulnerable in our communities, creating links and breaking social isolation. They contribute directly to our social fabric. Over the past year, community organizations have demonstrated resilience, adaptability and courage. We are proud today to announce a significant increase in our support for their actions. In the coming months, the City of Montreal's Diversity and Social Inclusion Department will be meeting with organizations and boroughs to identify their needs so that, starting in 2022, they can submit their projects for funding. We have a solid relationship with the community sector that we will continue to strengthen," concluded Nathalie Goulet, who is responsible for social inclusion, sports and recreation, the status of women, homelessness and youth on the executive committee.
