GNWT announces 2024 Anti-Poverty Fund recipients

July 17, 2024

Health and Social Services Minister Lesa Semmler is pleased to announce the 2024 recipients of the $1.75 million Anti-Poverty Fund. A total of 49 grants were awarded this year to Indigenous, community, and non-profit organizations to help them in their work to overcome and reduce poverty by addressing its root causes.

The Anti-Poverty Fund is designed to assist communities by minimizing administrative hurdles and supporting the long-term viability of projects through multi-year agreements. Five of this year’s funding recipients were awarded multi-year grants.

Successful proposals aim to reduce poverty by providing supports to those experiencing homelessness, reducing food waste and food loss, supporting children and families, promoting healthy living, preserving Indigenous and traditional knowledge, and encouraging on-the-land activities.

Notable recipients this year include the Holistic Community Wellness and Cultural Revival Initiative operated by the Tłı̨chǫ Government, and the Wellness Support Project run by the K’asho Got’ine Chartered Community.

The Holistic Community Wellness and Cultural Revival Initiative provides participants with nutritious meals and wellness checks, revives and sustains cultural heritage and fosters  bonds through traditional sewing projects, and enhances food security by promoting healthy eating habits while encouraging cultural, spiritual, and mental health through nature-based activities.

The Wellness Support Project will support healthy living and the wellness of children, youth, and families in the community of Fort Good Hope by providing healthy snacks for youth centre after-school and evening activities. Funding will also be used to prepare traditional foods for events like the Spring Carnival and Ramparts Rendezvous.

Quote

“The projects that received funding from the Anti-Poverty Fund this year focus on delivering sustainable, community-driven solutions that directly address the root causes and immediate effects of poverty. They provide stable, sustainable, and integrated solutions and supports, ensuring that people have access to the resources they need to improve their lives and the lives of those around them.”

– Lesa Semmler, Minister of Health and Social Services

Quick Facts

• The Anti-Poverty Fund supports eligible organizations in their efforts to reduce poverty in the Northwest Territories.
• 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, 49 proposals were approved for funding, ranging from $15,000 to $130,000.

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:

Andrew Wind
Manager, Communications
Health and Social Services
Government of the Northwest Territories
Andrew_Wind@gov.nt.ca
(867) 767-9052 ext. 49034

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