STRAIT AREA: Three community-based organizations in Inverness and Guysborough Counties are among the latest recipients of provincial funding aimed at improving supports and services for Nova Scotians with disabilities.
Through the Service Evolution Fund, more than $618,000 is being distributed to 16 projects across the province. The fund, launched in October 2024, is part of the government’s response to the Nova Scotia Human Rights Remedy, helping service providers move from facility-based care to community-based support models.
Locally, Mawita’mk in Inverness County will receive $19,100 to support community engagement and strategic planning, with a specific focus on better meeting the needs of Mi’kmaw community members with disabilities.
The project will help guide service delivery that is culturally appropriate and inclusive.
The ROC Society, which operates in both Inverness County and Cape Breton Regional Municipality, will receive $15,955 to assess and adapt its existing services while exploring the creation of new programs aligned with the evolving needs of its members and the expectations of the remedy.
In neighbouring Guysborough County, MusGo Rider Cooperative is receiving $37,855 to undertake strategic planning and community engagement on the Eastern Shore and in parts of Halifax Regional Municipality.
The initiative aims to improve transportation and support services for individuals with disabilities in rural areas.
“Service providers are reimagining how they deliver services and, in many cases, creating entirely new ways of supporting people in their communities,” Minister of Opportunities and Social Development Scott Armstrong said. “We’re seeing real momentum across the sector – especially coming out of the recent Rebuilding HOPE conference. These new projects show how committed service providers are to making this transformational change happen.”
The Service Evolution Fund supports organizations funded through the Disability Support Program and will invest $1 million annually over the next three years. Funding is available on a quarterly basis, with application deadlines at the end of February, May, August, and November.
For local residents, these investments mark a shift toward more personalized and inclusive disability support systems, rooted in community values and the right to self-determination.
For more information or to apply for upcoming funding rounds, visit: novascotia.ca.