CHICAGO, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois will invest $100 million in grant opportunities in an effort to reach “individuals at the highest risk of becoming victims or perpetrators of gun violence.”
Organizations can apply for funding to support community violence intervention programs.
The funding comes from the Government Alliance for Safe Communities through the Reimagine Violence Prevention Services Program, sponsored by the Illinois Department of Human Services, and the Lead Organization for Expanding Capacity for Community Violence Interventions – Street Outreach Services sponsored by the City of Chicago.
The Reimagine Violence Prevention Services Program will provide $46 million to community-based organizations throughout Chicago and the rest of the state to address firearm violence in targeted areas.
According to the state, “Funded programs will use evidence-informed strategies designed to improve personal outcomes, promote resilience, and reduce the social and environmental factors that contribute to firearm violence.”
Chicago will give $11.6 million to a lead organization and associated community organizations to reach individuals at the highest risk of violence involvement in targeted communities and violent hotspots.
“Violence is one of the top three drivers of the racial life expectancy gap for Black Chicagoans,” said Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Olusimbo ‘Simbo’ Ige. “It is critical that together, through ongoing partnerships across all levels of government and community organizations, we work to engage residents most at-risk through proven violence intervention programming to close this gap and help all Chicagoans live safer and healthier lives.”
An additional $2.5 million will create a support network for more than 400 community-based organizations.
“Community organizations are vitally important in identifying and addressing local violence prevention and intervention needs and issues,” said Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority Executive Director Delrice Adams. “To ensure equity, it is imperative to support organizations as they build effective and sustainable programs. This opportunity will centralize and greatly expand capacity-building service provision across Illinois, including comprehensive grant management training, budgeting skills, and other resources local organizations can apply to successfully seek and manage grant funding.”
