FAQ's

1. What is the Neighbourhoods Alive! initiative?
2. Which neighbourhoods can receive Neighbourhoods Alive! support?
3. How were Neighbourhoods Alive! communities selected?
4. Is there an application form for Neighbourhoods Alive!?
5. Who decides which projects get funding assistance?
6. How much funding is available?
7. How does Neighbourhoods Alive! relate to the Winnipeg Housing and Homelessness Initiative (WHHI)?
8. Who can access Neighbourhoods Alive! funding?
9. Where can I get more information?

1. What is the Neighbourhoods Alive! initiative?

Neighbourhoods Alive! is Manitoba's long-term strategy to support and encourage community-driven revitalization efforts in designated urban neighbourhoods in Winnipeg, Brandon and Thompson. The goal of Neighbourhoods Alive! is to address some of the issues identified in a neighbourhood by building on the strengths of the community.

In practical terms, this means that Neighbourhoods Alive! can help neighbourhoods organize, develop a community plan, undertake and co-ordinate neighbourhood supported projects for the revitalization of the community. Neighbourhoods Alive! provides financial support to projects to which the neighbourhood can contribute cash from other sources, labour, materials, services or other in-kind support. Neighbourhoods Alive! also links neighbourhood-identified priorities with a variety of existing public sector services and programs.

Neighbourhoods Alive! includes the following components: Neighbourhood Renewal Fund; Neighbourhood Development Assistance Program; Training Initiatives; Community Initiatives; Neighbourhoods Housing Assistance and Lighthouses.

For more information please refer to our Neighbourhoods Alive! brochure and Fact sheets, or contact the Neighbourhoods Alive Coordinator at (204) 945-3379.

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2. Which neighbourhoods can receive Neighbourhoods Alive! support?

The following neighbourhoods are currently targeted under Neighbourhoods Alive!: Brandon City Centre, Thompson (at large with focus on pockets of decline) and twelve Winnipeg neighbourhoods (Lord Selkirk Park, Point Douglas, Spence, West Broadway, Willliam Whyte, Centennial, Daniel McIntyre, Dufferin, North Portage, St. John's, St. Matthews and West Alexander).

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3. How were Neighbourhoods Alive! communities selected?

Neighbourhoods Alive! is currently focusing on Manitoba's three largest cities in recognition that Winnipeg, Brandon and Thompson neighbourhoods face the most severe challenges.

The City of Winnipeg has classified Winnipeg's highest needs neighbourhoods as Major Improvement Areas (MIAs), based on a variety of indicators (e.g. condition of housing, rental and ownership rates, unemployment and poverty rates, income levels, incidence of crime). Several MIA neighbourhoods in Winnipeg have been designated under Neighbourhoods Alive!, including: West Broadway, Spence, William Whyte, Lord Selkirk Park, Point Douglas, Dufferin, St. John's, Daniel McIntyre, St. Matthews, Centennial, West Alexander and North Portage. In Brandon, the core area of the city has been designated, while in Thompson, the entire city is designated, with particular emphasis on areas/pockets in greatest need. (Please refer to maps for designated neighbourhoods.)

The focus on Winnipeg, Brandon and Thompson also reflects the fact that these cities were also specifically targeted under the federal Homelessness Initiative. This provides an opportunity to undertake some complementary activities and direct more resources into these communities.

The government recognizes there is demand for this type of support beyond the neighbourhoods that have been designated. However, by targeting Neighbourhoods Alive! resources to a limited number of high needs neighbourhoods, the Province hopes to have maximum impact.

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4. Is there an application form for Neighbourhoods Alive!?

There is no application form for Neighbourhoods Alive! Guidelines, however, were developed to assist neighbourhood organizations in developing their project proposals for consideration under the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.

For information on specific Neighbourhoods Alive! programs and their requirements, please click on the following:

The Neighbourhood Renewal Fund
The Community Initiatives Program
Neighbourhood Housing Assistance
Lighthouses

For additional information and tips on preparing a project proposal and budget, please refer to the Community Guide to Proposal Writing, and the Example Budget.

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5. Who decides which projects get funding assistance?

The Neighbourhood Renewal Fund under Neighbourhoods Alive! has three intake dates: January 2, May 1 and October 1 of each year. At that time, staff review all proposals received to see if they meet the program guidelines. They may contact the sponsoring organization for more information or clarification. They often work with the community to rework the proposal so that the project will complement other activities and avoid duplication of efforts.

The proposals are then circulated to other key provincial departments that are represented on a Neighbourhoods Alive! Interdepartmental Working Group. The Working Group meets monthly to discuss proposals and monitor the progress of Neighbourhoods Alive!

Finally, recommendations from the Working Group go to the Neighbourhoods Alive! Steering Committee of Cabinet Ministers, chaired by the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Trade, and including the Ministers of Justice, Family Services & Housing, Aboriginal & Northern Affairs, and Education, Citzenship & Youth. The Steering Committee makes decisions regarding funding of specific projects.

Five Neighbourhood Renewal Corporations (NRCs), representing neighbourhood interests, are also involved in the Initiative. All Neighbourhood Renewal Fund project proposals are vetted through the local NRC prior to submission to NA! to ensure broad neighbourhood support. The NRCs co-ordinate community involvement and involve the community in developing neighbourhood plans and setting neighbourhood priorities.

The five NRCs are: West Broadway Development Corporation, Spence Neighbourhood Association, North End Community Renewal Corporation, Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation, and Thompson Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation.

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6. How much funding is available?

In 2005/06, approximately $3.7 million has been set aside for Neighbourhoods Alive!, for the following programs:

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7. How does Neighbourhoods Alive! relate to the Winnipeg Housing and Homelessness Initiative (WHHI)?

The Province's Neighbourhoods Housing Assistance Program is delivered in Winnipeg through the WHHI. Coordination between the initiatives ensures that an eligible neighbourhood organization, which may be undertaking a housing renewal project, can also access funds for a complementary initiative such as a park redevelopment or improved street lighting. To ensure these linkages, Neighbourhoods Alive! staff are co-located in the same office space and report to the same Assistant Deputy Minister.

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8. Who can access Neighbourhoods Alive! funding?

Neighbourhoods Alive! provides funding support to neighbourhood organizations representing residents, local businesses and other interested stakeholders in the community and whose overall purpose is to improve the quality of life in the neighbourhood. Project proposals should demonstrate community support.

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9. Where can I get more information?

For more information, please contact the Neighbourhoods Alive! Coordinator at (204) 945-3379.

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