Measures to Address Prostitution Initiative
Call for Proposals - NGOs & Governmental Organizations

About the Victims Fund

The Federal Victims Strategy consolidates all federal government work related to victims of crime into one objective: to give victims a more effective voice in the criminal justice system.

The Victims Fund provides grants and contributions to support projects and activities that encourage the development of new approaches, promote access to justice, improve the capacity of service providers, foster the establishment of referral networks, and/or increase awareness of services available to victims of crime and their families. The Fund does not, however, provide criminal injuries compensation for victims of crime.  Information on the objectives of the Victims Fund is available at: http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fund-fina/cj-jp/fund-fond/proj.html

Overview

Prostitution is a form of sexual exploitation that disproportionately and negatively impacts women and children and other marginalized groups. It is an extremely dangerous activity that poses a risk of violence and psychological harm to those subjected to it, regardless of the venue in which it takes place. The emotional and physical health consequences for those involved in prostitution are significant and, in turn, make leaving prostitution difficult.  Research shows that many individuals involved in prostitution have histories of victimization, and that they continue to experience victimization while selling sexual services.

Recognizing the significant harms that flow from prostitution, the Government of Canada announced new funding over the next five years (2015-2016 to 2019-2020) to complement the recently passed criminal law reforms.  Accordingly, these new resources will be available through the Victims Fund to support those exiting prostitution and demonstrate the commitment to meaningfully support those exploited through prostitution.

Who can apply for this funding?

Funding is available for eligible organizations to provide or enhance services to support exit strategies for those involved in prostitution.  For the purpose of this call for proposals, the following organizations are eligible:

• Not-for-profit non-governmental organizations;
• Bands, Tribal Councils and self-governing First Nations who are working to provide services and assistance to victims of crime in Aboriginal communities; and,
• Provincial, territorial, municipal and regional governments and agencies.

This funding cannot be provided to individuals.

Activities/Projects

What types of projects qualify for this funding?

The purpose of this call is to seek funding applications from communities across the country in order to support projects that provide or enhance services that assist sellers of sexual services in leaving prostitution.  Funding is available to organizations with experience working with those exploited by prostitution or victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation.  Projects that could be considered for funding may include some of the following elements:

• Providing victims with both short-term and long-term strategies to exit prostitution which includes services that can help them build skills and resilience, such as trauma therapy, counselling and addiction recovery, skills building and education, employment training, financial literacy, parenting skills, life-skills programs and empowerment; 
• The use of emergency safe houses and drop-in centres for those contemplating leaving prostitution as well as mid-term and long-term safe transitional housing; and,
• Providing victims with the support needed to participate in the justice system including access to basic legal information.

What selection criteria will be used?

As funding is limited, the following factors will be considered in order to prioritize funding applications and make funding decisions:

• The application form must be completed IN FULL and submitted by January 30, 2015;
• The degree to which the proposed project activities are expected to support effective exit strategies for individuals wishing to leave prostitution;
• The applicant must be a non-governmental or a governmental organization that currently offers support services to individuals involved in prostitution;
• The applicant must be a non-governmental or a governmental organization that has existing networks with various support services for individuals wishing to exit prostitution; and,
• Applications that can demonstrate a need for services within their community.

What additional selection criteria may be used?

• The applicant is a non-governmental organization;
• Applications that consider and will adapt their project delivery approach to address the distinct needs of females and males as well as the various cultural groups within the population being served.  This could include demonstrating how the unique needs of youth, Aboriginal women, or marginalized groups would be met; and,
• The selection of organizations from across the country to ensure national representation.

What Expenses are Eligible?

Funding between April 1, 2015 and March 31, 2020, can be used for the following types of expenses:

• Wages and benefits;
• Rental or leasing of space and equipment;
• Consultant and/or contractor fees;
• Reasonable operating expenses;
• Reasonable materials and supplies;
• Professional services (such as counselling, training programs, skills development…); and,
• Evaluation and audit costs.

The Victims Fund can provide multi-year funding for up to 5 years beginning on April 1, 2015 and ending on March 31, 2020. 

What is Ineligible?

The funding cannot be used for:

• Capital expenses (e.g. purchases of land, buildings, renovations and vehicles);
• Project costs incurred before the agreement is approved;
• Core operational expenses;
• Costs not related to service delivery; and,
• Entertainment fees, alcohol, sponsorships, gifts and souvenirs.

When is the deadline to submit a funding application?

The deadline to submit a funding application for the Measures to Address Prostitution Initiative is January 30, 2015. 

How to Apply for Funding

To apply for funding, please fill out the Funding Application Form.

The funding application form requires overview information on your organization as well as project details including partnerships, a work plan and a budget.  Please ensure a complete response is provided to all questions.

Points to Consider

Please note that funding is limited, and therefore, not all eligible proposals will be funded. The Department of Justice thanks you for taking the time to complete and submit an application for funding.

Gender-based Analysis

The aim of the programming measures is to assist all individuals wishing to exit from prostitution.  In practice, however, programming measures will benefit primarily females as the vast majority of those involved in prostitution are women and girls (75 to 80 percent).  When preparing a funding application, organizations should be mindful that services must be sensitive to the diverse needs of the women, men, girls and boys who need assistance, as well as to the cultural diversity within communities.  Organizations should also analyse their proposed approach and activities to avoid unintentionally creating barriers for some groups.

Official Languages

In support of Section 41 of the Official Languages Act, the Department is committed to facilitating the participation of official language minority communities and their organizations in the development and assessment of the Department's policies, programs and services having significant impact on the development of the communities; and to take measures to ensure that the Department of Justice's programs and services reach official language minority communities. In the context of project funding, these measures include:

• outreach to official language minority communities to enhance their understanding of the Department of Justice funding programs; and
• encouraging contacts between organizations that are receiving financial assistance and official language minority organizations/groups to ensure that the needs of these communities are taken into consideration in relation to the proposed projects to be considered for Department of Justice Canada funding.

Sustainable Development

The Department of Justice encourages applicants to submit proposals electronically. If you submit your application on paper, please consider printing on both sides of the paper. These actions will minimize environmental impacts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is meant by exit strategies?

A. Research shows that it can take several attempts for a seller of sexual services to successfully exit prostitution.  A range of short-term and long-term programs and services may be necessary to support the transition.  Each individual involved in prostitution typically has specific needs.  An exit strategy will identify these needs and respond with appropriate programs and services or establish networks with existing services within the community.  These programs and services could include: counselling, addiction recovery, skills building, education, employment training, trauma therapy, life-skills programs, resiliency and empowerment coaching, parenting skills, safe houses, drop-in centres, and transitional housing.

Q. How much funding is available?

A. The exact level of funding will vary from project to project as funding is dependent on the scope and nature of the proposed project but typically would not exceed $150,000 per year, per project.  This does not guarantee that all successful funding applications will receive this level of funding.  An anticipated 12 to 14 projects are expected to receive funding. 

Q. When is funding available?

A. The maximum period of funding is five years.  Funding can commence as early as April 1, 2015 and will end on March 31, 2020.  Not all projects will receive a full five years of funding.  All applicants are encouraged to consider a sustainability or transition plan to prepare for the conclusion of federal funding.  

Q. Are established partnerships necessary?

A.  Organizations are required to have existing networks with various support services for individuals involved in prostitution.  The strength and breath of these networks will be assessed during the funding application review process.

Q. Are other funding sources available?

A. The federal government announced $20M in new funding to support measures to address prostitution.  The responsibility to ensure that organizations have access to these resources in a timely manner is being shared between the Department of Justice and the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.  To access information on the funding available from Public Safety please visit the Crime Prevention Action Fund.

Q. Can organizations apply to both federal departments? 

A. While organizations can apply to both departments they would only be eligible to receive funding from one department unless the organization is providing two different types of support services in a high need community or city.  Both departments will be working together to ensure that there is no duplication of funding while also assuring that a geographical distribution of resources is realized.

Q. Does my project need to include an evaluation component?

A.  Each project funded will be required to capture and report on the results of their project (performance against project objectives) in order to contribute to an overall assessment by the Department of Justice on the effectiveness of the government’s efforts to support measures to address prostitution.  Applicants are not required to develop a formal evaluation plan but the organization must be able to capture and report on results.

Q. When will funding decisions be made?

A.  The review process is expected to begin immediately after the closing date of the call for proposals.  The departmental service standard for making and communicating a funding decision to applicants is 120 calendar days.  The first funding agreements will likely be approved by May 2015.

Publications and Resources

What can I expect from a funding agreement?

The following guide is designed as a reference tool to help funding recipients better understand and comply with the financial requirements described in contribution agreements. It is recommended that recipients review this handbook at the outset of their funding agreement.

Contribution Funds for Non-Governmental Organizations, a Handbook

Contact Information

Where is more information available?

For more information about the Measures to Address Prostitution Initiative and how to apply for funding, contact us:

Victims Fund Manager
Programs Branch
Department of Justice Canada
284 Wellington Street, 6th Floor
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H8

Telephone: 613-941-4193
Fax: 613-954-4893
E-mail: pb-dgp@justice.gc.ca