Thunder Bay-Rainy River Liberal MP Marcus Powlowski announced the launch of the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) for 2020 and 2021.
According to the Government of Canada, the NHSP is a federal grants and contributions program. This program provides funding for projects that make a difference in the lives of seniors and their communities.
In a press release, Powlowski said this year organizations will be able to apply for funding to support seniors dealing with the pandemic by submitting project proposals that offer specific COVID-19 relief and recovery activities for seniors. Organizations are still welcome to submit proposals for traditional NHSP projects that they plan to deliver in 2021 and 2022.
There are two funding applications: community-based projects are eligible to receive up to $25,000 in grant funding for one year or community-based projects can apply for a small grant of up to $5,000 for one year. The former small grants of up to $5,000 are available to organizations that have not received funding within the last five years.
Each of those programs have different eligibility criteria that can be accessed on the Government of Canada website.
The project activities for the small grant of $5,000 must include at least one of the following: supporting information technology equipment upgrades, provide capital support for new activities or promoting volunteering to increase the organization’s capacity.
To be eligible for either funds, your organization must be one of the following types: non-profit organization, municipality, educational institution, Indigenous organization, provincial or territorial government, a coalition network or committee, research organization, public health and social services institution or be a for-profit organization if the nature and intent of the is non-commercial and does not generate profit.
The press release states that organizations are invited to apply for funding that supports the NHSP national priorities for this cycle which supports healthy ageing, preventing elder abuse and fraud, combatting ageism, celebrating diversity and promoting inclusion, improving seniors’ access to government services and benefits and adapting community-based organizations to a more virtual environment.
The NHSP was launched in 2004. Since then, about 23,600 projects have been funded across Canada. More than the investment budget for seniors in 2019 that had an additional $100 million over five years and $20 million per year, the Government of Canada said it will be supporting more projects.
The deadline to apply for these grants is October 20, 2020.
