Grants and Contributions:

This Way Out

GV230293

$865,000.00

Sep 15, 2023 - Mar 31, 2027

Through this 43 month project, Victim Services of Peel (VSOP), will leverage their existing relationship with the Peel Regional Police (PRP) to develop and put in place the HALT (Helping Alliances with Law Enforcement and Trafficking) model, an integrated approach whereby the Crisis Intervention Counsellors (CIC) are embedded in the Vice Unit at the Peel Regional Police to collaborate on Human Trafficking investigations and immediate on-scene response to strengthen the GBV sector. It will address the need to provide real-time support to Human Trafficking Victims at time of police response.  To do so, the project will establish a steering committee with subject matter expertise, engage with local organizations to increase access to long term wrap around services, hire and train 2 Anti - Human Trafficking (AHT) Crisis Intervention Counsellors, organize joint training sessions with PRP, and embed Crisis Intervention Counselors into PRP to provide immediate Client Services. An external evaluator will measure and assess the impact of the promising practice. Victim Services of Peel will share evaluation results including lessons learned, and project successes with stakeholders and the public so that they may replicate it or expand upon it. With the supplemental funds in 2025 Victim Services of Peel will be used to: 1- increase impact of the promising practice by hiring staff to provide support on evenings and weekends to survivors, and 2- increase knowledge mobilization by hosting a Human Trafficking Symposium aimed at disseminating the best practices to Human Trafficking Police Units, Victim Services Sites, Crown Attorney’s, and Social Service providers from across Ontario. With the supplemental funds and extension provided in early 2026, Victim Services of Peel will plan and design a new HALT Model Training informed by evaluation findings and lessons learned from Phase I targeted to police services, victim services, and social service providers. The new training modules and materials will be developed and piloted through online modules, webinars, and in‑person sessions. Evidence and insights will be captured through an external evaluation to inform future refinement. Through this they will further advance Gender Equality.

Women and Gender Equality Canada

Promising practices are incorporated by the GBV sector into new or enhanced supports for target populations.

Brampton, Ontario, CA L6V 3W6

001-2023-2024-Q2-00076

Contribution

Grants and Contributions

Not-for-profit organization or charity

Increase of agreement value, Change of end date

Apr 20, 2026

Victim Services of Peel

Gender-Based Violence Program

The purpose of the GBV Program is to strengthen the GBV sector to address gaps in supports for two groups of survivors: 1) Indigenous women and their communities, and 2) underserved populations (including women living with a disability, non-status/refugee /immigrant women, LGBTQ2S, gender non-conforming people and ethno-cultural women) in Canada. The Program provides grant and contribution funding to Canadian organizations to improve supports to help create long-term, comprehensive solutions at the national, regional, and local levels.