Backgrounder: New Horizons for Seniors Program 2019–20 call for proposals for community-based projects

The New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) is a federal grants and contributions program that supports projects that empower seniors in their communities and contribute to improving their health and well-being. NHSP funding supports community-based projects and pan-Canadian projects. The projects are led or inspired by seniors who are making a difference in the lives of others and their communities.

Through the NHSP, the Government of Canada encourages seniors to share their knowledge, skills and experience to the benefit of others. The objectives of the NHSP are:

• promoting volunteerism among seniors;
• engaging seniors in the community through mentoring of others;
• expanding awareness of elder abuse, including financial abuse;
• supporting social participation and inclusion of seniors; and 
• providing capital assistance for new and existing community projects and/or programs for seniors. 

Since the NHSP was launched in 2004, more than 23,600 projects have been funded across Canada. With a proposed investment in Budget 2019 of $100 million over five years, and $20 million per year ongoing, including $15 million for community-based projects, the Government of Canada will be supporting even more projects.

Community-based projects

Community-based project funding supports activities where seniors are engaged, connected and actively involved in their communities. Organizations are eligible to receive up to $25,000 in grant funding, and small grants of up to $5,000 are available to organizations that have not received funding within the last five years.

As part of the 2019-20 NHSP community-based call for proposals, organizations are invited to apply for funding under the NHSP’s three national priorities:

• preventing elder abuse and fraud, including measures to reduce crimes and harms against seniors;
• supporting healthy aging in community, addressing dementia, including community supports and intergenerational housing; and
• counteracting ageism in the workplace to promote labour market retention of seniors.

Approximately 2000 projects across Canada were approved through last year’s NHSP call for proposals for community-based projects, many of which are still in progress.

For more information, visit The New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP).

Pan-Canadian projects

Pan-Canadian projects test and share best practices across the country and replicate approaches that have worked well in addressing seniors’ issues. As part of a collective impact approach, project partners work together to achieve measurable results in increasing social inclusion of seniors. The objectives of collective impact projects funded through the NHSP pan-Canadian stream are to:

Build the collective capacity of organizations
Promote improved access to information, programs and services for seniors
Support action research for increasing the level of social inclusion
Develop innovative approaches to engage senior volunteers
Address systemic barriers that contribute to the social exclusion of seniors

For more information, visit Funding: New Horizons for Seniors Program – pan-Canadian projects.