Julie Green, Minister of Health and Social Services is pleased to announce the 2023 recipients of the $1.75 million Anti-Poverty Fund. This year, 58 grants were awarded to Indigenous, community, and non-profit organizations to help reduce poverty by addressing its root causes.

The successful proposals will help residents experiencing homelessness, food security, supporting children and families, healthy living, traditional knowledge, and on-the-land activities.

Highlights include the On-the-Land Healing Program, run by the Tłı̨chǫ Government across the Tłı̨chǫ region. These camps allow participants to engage in on-the-land workshops that focus on several topics, including mental wellness, addictions, co-dependency, self-care, loss and grief, historical trauma, intergenerational Indian Residential School trauma, building healthy relationships within self and others, building on Cultural practices, survival skills on the land, traditional sewing projects and Tłı̨chǫ storytelling.

The Hazhǫ Ełexè Łets’eèzhe program run by the Tree of Peace Friendship Centre brings together youth, Elders, and community partners. This project will support youth in the community of Yellowknife (including Ndilǫ and Dettah) by providing hands-on activities on the land, and focusing on culture and arts that promote wellness, leadership, and employability skills.

LEAP to Transitional Housing run by Hay River Committee for Persons with Disabilities is going into its twelfth year of operation. They offer a variety of programs to assist clients and their families with day-to-day needs and improve their well-being in the areas of food security, housing, substances-use challenges, education, employment, skills training, knowledge of community systems and social/recreation inclusion.

The Anti-Poverty Fund remains dedicated to empowering communities by minimizing administrative hurdles and fostering the long-term viability of projects through the implementation of multi-year agreements. Multi-year grants were awarded to eight organizations for 2022-23 and six multi-year grants were awarded to organizations for 2023-25.

Quote(s)

“The Anti-Poverty Fund empowers organizations to develop and implement community-driven solutions that directly address poverty and improve social outcomes for residents. By focusing on priorities such as children and family support, healthy living, safe and affordable housing, sustainable communities, and integrated services, the 58 projects awarded funding this year will address the root causes of poverty and provide individuals with the tools and resources they need to improve their lives.”

- Julie Green, Minister of Health and Social Services

Quick facts

• The Anti-Poverty Fund supports eligible organizations in their efforts to reduce poverty in the NWT.
• Projects receiving funding must align with one or more of the five pillars of the Anti-Poverty Strategic Framework and Action Plan.
• Funding is allocated each fiscal year.
• The Anti-Poverty Fund has an annual budget of $1.75 million; there is no maximum or minimum funding limit for individual projects.
• This year, 58 proposals were approved for funding, ranging from $8,000 to $55,000.  

Related links

• Recipients of the Anti-Poverty Fund
• Working Together II: An Action Plan to Reduce Poverty in the Northwest Territories (2019-2022)

For media requests, please contact:

Jeremy Bird

Manager, Communications

Health and Social Services

Government of the Northwest Territories

Jeremy_Bird@gov.nt.ca  

(867) 767-9052 ext. 49034