OLIVER/OSOYOOS – An organization that works to safeguard vulnerable young women and protect victims of domestic, sexual and other forms of violence will benefit from a government grant of $19,600 to support at-risk women in Oliver and Osoyoos.

This is part of a nearly $7.2-million provincewide investment— the largest-ever one-time grants investment in community crime prevention in B.C. — combining $5.5 million in provincial Civil Forfeiture Office proceeds and $1.69 million from criminal forfeiture proceeds.

The South Okanagan Integrated Community Services Society (SOICSS) is using the $19,600 grant on its program Healing and Rebuilding in the South Okanagan. This collaborative project between SOICSS and the Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB) will provide education and awareness around violence against Aboriginal women and will improve responses from service providers and community members to ensure that women who have experienced violence can be supported by their loved ones and by service providers within their communities.

“The civil forfeiture program takes away the proceeds of crime and puts them back into community programs that promote safety and crime prevention,” Boundary-Similkameen MLA Linda Larson said. “This grant will support the South Okanagan Integrated Community Services Society as it continues its exemplary work for vulnerable women in our region.”