I want to hear what is important to you – Take my local services survey!

Ontario Investing $390,000 to Fight Back Against Crime in Kitchener. Cash and proceeds seized from criminals will help support victims and prevent crime

May 20, 2026

KITCHENER — To help support victims and prevent crime, the Ontario government is allocating over $390,000 to Muslim Social Services Waterloo Region and Reception House Waterloo Region. The funding is being provided through the Civil Remedies Grant Program.
An investment of up to $194,840 for Muslim Social Services Waterloo Region will support the expansion of an existing program that provides newcomers who are victims of gender-based violence, including human trafficking, with culturally sensitive, trauma-informed counselling, as well as education on rights and settlement services.
An investment of up to $195,840 for Reception House Waterloo Region will support ‘Building Bridges’, an engagement and social inclusion program aimed at newcomers, refugees, children, and youth. It will deliver community-based, trauma-informed programs and activities that foster inclusion, resilience, and cultural understanding, and will also include virtual workshops, online mentorship, and multilingual digital resources to increase accessibility.
“Muslim Social Services and Reception House are doing deeply important work in our community every day,” said Jess Dixon, MPP, Kitchener South – Hespeler. “Their staff support people through some of the most difficult moments in their lives with compassion, professionalism, and dignity. This funding recognizes the value of that work and will help strengthen services that make a real difference for newcomers, families, children, and survivors across Waterloo Region.”
Through the 2026-28 Civil Remedies Grant Program, Ontario is allocating $5 million in cash and proceeds seized from criminals to help 27 law enforcement agencies and community and Indigenous organizations fight crime and strengthen public safety across the province.
“Our government is protecting Ontario by using every available tool, including civil forfeiture, to help police and community partners confront and dismantle criminal networks that prey on our communities,” said Attorney General Doug Downey. “Crime should never pay, and these seized funds will help communities support victims of crime and break the cycle of offending.” Funding through the Civil Remedies Grant Program is provided through the forfeiture of property or money that has been used for or results from crime.

Quick Facts

  • In 2021, Ontario reinvested $1.5 million in cash and proceeds seized from criminals to support 18 community projects focused on helping victims of crime and strengthening local crime prevention.
  • Through the Protect Ontario Through Safer Streets and Stronger Communities Act, the Keeping Criminals Behind Bars Act and related measures, Ontario is keeping communities safe and protecting victims of crime.
  • Ontario is investing over $2.3 million over three years to expand access to the Independent Legal Advice program which provides free legal advice to victims of sexual assault, human trafficking, intimate partner violence, and other sexual offences.
    • Ontario is protecting young victims and witnesses of crime by investing $4.2 million to expand the Child Victim Witness Program to seven new communities.
    • The Civil Remedies Grant Program is funded exclusively by assets seized and sold through the Civil and Administrative Forfeiture Program, including vehicles, luxury handbags, jewelry, cash, and real estate.
    Quotes
    “Through the Civil Remedies Grant, our government is investing in local organizations who are supporting victims of human trafficking and gender-based violence and helping our seniors protect themselves from online scams and fraud. We are putting these seized funds back into the community to protect victims and prevent crime.”
    Mike Harris
    MPP, Kitchener – Conestoga

  • “This funding through the Civil Remedies Grant Program is more than financial support; it is hope, safety, healing and dignity for some of the most vulnerable members of our community. At Muslim Social Services of Waterloo Region, we witness every day the deep pain carried by newcomer and refugee survivors. Many suffer in silence because of language barriers, cultural stigma, fear, and the lack of culturally responsive supports. Through this investment, we will be able to expand our trauma-informed counselling services, provide specialized training for our counsellors, and support clients in multiple languages and from a culturally and spiritually sensitive lens. We are deeply grateful to the Government of Ontario and especially MPP Jess Dixon for believing in the importance of equitable, compassionate and culturally supportive mental health services.”
    Duaa Al-aghar
    Executive Director, Muslim Social Services Waterloo Region

    “As a survivor of domestic violence there was a time when I felt completely alone, afraid and invisible. I carried trauma, fear and shame in silence because I didn’t know where to go for help or who would truly understand my culture and my language and experiences. Reaching out for support was one of the hardest things I have ever done. Muslim Social Services gave me safety, dignity, compassion, and hope. For the first time I felt heard without judgment. Being able to speak in my own language and connect with someone who understood my background made all the difference in my healing journey. The trauma-informed support I received helped me begin rebuilding my confidence, my mental health, and my life. This funding is life-changing for survivors like me. This support gives people a chance to heal, regain their voice and believe in a future free from violence.”
    Client
    Muslim Social Services Waterloo Region
    “We are deeply grateful to the Government of Ontario for this important investment in safer, more inclusive communities. This project is a powerful example of what is possible when governments, donors, and community organizations come together. Support from the Civil Remedies Grant has enabled Reception House Waterloo Region to implement the Building Bridges program, strengthening social cohesion, reducing isolation, and empowering newcomers and youth with the tools and confidence they need to navigate challenges safely.”
    Babur Mawladin
    CEO, Reception House Waterloo Region