Tier 2: United Way of Greater Moncton and Southeastern NB COVID-19 Compassion Fund Application

Atlantic Compassion Fund - United Way of Greater Moncton and SENB COVID-19 Response

Tier 2 Application: United Way of Greater Moncton and Southeastern NB Region

United Way of Greater Moncton and Southeastern NB Region is committed to taking a phased approach to disbursing the donations received through the Atlantic Compassion Fund. Tier 1 was focused on addressing the most pressing needs of those most marginalized (as determined by service providers) and supporting efforts to meet immediate and basic needs. As the conditions and restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic have continued and evolved, different and/or nuanced needs have emerged that require community-led support.

For agencies, sector stabilization has been a priority advocated at the National level by a number of organizations as many sources of funding have decreased, been delayed, or been halted. While this remains a priority for United Ways across the country, including United Way Canada Centraide, it is not the focus of the Tier 2 applications.

The deadline for applications is May 30th, 2020, and the maximum amount that can be requested is $10,000.

Applications to Tier 2 funds will be available to registered charities serving community members in SENB (and Miramichi and Bathurst regions) based on the following areas of focus:

Question Title

* 1. Please check all that apply directly, and a minimum of one

Immediate/Fundamental Needs

We have heard from a number of agencies that have focused in Tier 1 applications on access to food, safe transportation, medical and other supplies (such as diapers, baby formula, gift cards with stores that will not accept cash, etc.) that the need continues to exist, and that individuals and families they supported in the first few weeks of the pandemic continue to require support. At the same time, a variety of initiatives have been developed and investments have been made that seek to address these fundamental needs, including:

· Investments in Food banks, from Federal and Provincial Governments, as well as the private sector
· Volunteer Driver programs in all regions of NB that have shifted their primary focus from transporting people to delivering groceries and other supplies

We recognize that there are still gaps, such as culturally appropriate meals, specific dietary requirements, delays in delivery, distribution challenges, suspended programs (such as school lunch programs), and socially isolated or vulnerable populations without access to internet or phone. Applications for Immediate/Fundamental Needs are still eligible, with the onus on agencies to demonstrate how other funding sources are being leveraged and what gap still exists.

Social and Mental Health & Addictions Supports

While Adapted and Virtual Programming Costs refers primarily to continued engagement with the people you serve, the longer the COVID-19 pandemic continues the greater the stress on individuals and families. Even agencies that are not specifically identified as offering Mental Health Services are nonetheless being asked to respond to the growing social, emotional and mental health needs of their participants/clients. This has been the most frequently identified need by partners as the Public Health Crisis continues. Mental Health Support can include investments enabling crisis lines and system navigation services that benefit Canadians. Services such as youth and adult mental health crisis lines, community navigation services, and other virtual and online crisis and mental health supports.: from check-ins, to developing new strategies for people in increasingly vulnerable circumstances.

Adapted and Virtual Programming Costs

From cell phones for employees needing to work virtually or do outreach because their building is closed, through agencies adapting counseling services to be done virtually and deliver webinars online, to drop-in’s and daycares developing programs to engage online with children, youth and families, we recognize that this pandemic has forced you to be creative in responding to the needs of the people you serve. If you incur new or increased costs in responding in adapted ways, these would be eligible expenses.

Protective Equipment/Clothing and Cleaning Supplies

While New Brunswick is showing progress in “flattening the curve,” we recognize that many COVID-19 restrictions and social distancing measures will continue for an extended period. Many community agencies continue to serve people directly, including those who must provide care in group and personal homes. And while many buildings are closed, others by necessity must remain open to offer services. These represent significant increased costs, including the frequent cleaning that agencies must perform after each interaction in medium to high risk conditions.

Specific Population Needs

There are universal initiatives and resources available at this stage of the pandemic, but there continue to be targeted needs that are not wholly served by these existing assets, including varying stages of eligibility for new Canadians for various government programs, shortage of home care workers for those with disabilities, and homeless or precariously housed individuals facing increasing challenges and decreasing access to services and centres. Eligible expenses could include (but not limited to):

· Support to service providers for additional wage costs during COVID-19 to hire temporary workers to cover what have been volunteer roles and/or to add hours to existing staff roles;
· Support to service providers for exceptional circumstances to help increase social distancing and/or self-isolation of individuals with special needs during COVID 19
· Support to shelter providers to provide accommodation and food to
o staff traveling from other areas to help
o help to distance the staff who are working with high risk individuals from their families, in order to increase safety and the capacity of service providers during COVID-19
· Special accommodations i.e. disability related supports
· Supplementary programs for new Canadians respecting cultural needs