Regina non-profits now eligible for harm reduction funding

The City of Regina is now accepting grant applications to provide non-profits with up to $500,000 in funding for harm reduction.

Beginning Thursday, services and initiatives that support harm reduction in the city will be able to apply until July 30.

“It’s important that all levels of government are engaged in advancing harm reduction initiatives,” Coun. Andrew Stevens said in a release.

“This new funding stream partners the City of Regina with local community organizations to address the growing addiction crisis and mental health issues with outreach programming, in addition to supporting Indigenous and culturally guided approaches to healing and wellness.”

The city hopes the funding will increase access to support services and reduce harm associated with drug use in Regina.

Last year was the deadliest year in the city’s history when it came to overdose deaths, prompting the Regina Police Service to label the current trend in rising deaths as a “crisis.”

Harm reduction is an approach taken in many cities that focuses on the prevention of harm in people who continue to use drugs, rather than on the prevention of drug use itself.

The Nēwo Yōtina Friendship Centre that recently opened in the city said May 26 it was thankful that money would soon be available for it to potentially access.

To be eligible for the grant funding, an organization must be a registered non-profit with a proposed initiative that aligns with one of more of the four priorities of the funding stream. Those include overdose prevention, safe and accessible spaces, safe and inclusive communities, and strengthened support and connections.