Chicago - A second round of anti-violence funding to empower community groups to develop evidence-based strategies to combat firearm violence is now available thanks to the efforts of Senator Robert Peters.

“Today, communities are a step closer to addressing the problem of firearm violence with this round of funding now available to community groups,” said Peters (D- Chicago). “I encourage all eligible organizations to apply, get GATA-certified so we can work hand-in-hand with affected communities, intervening with at-risk youth, supporting survivors and working from a grass roots level. We want every single community to get the public safety everyone deserves.”  

The funds are available as a result of last year’s passage of the Reimagine Public Safety Act, spearheaded by Peters. The law created violence prevention grants for research-backed services like summer and after-school programming, job training and placement, high-risk youth intervention services, violence interruption, case management, trauma-informed mental health care supported by Medicaid and more.

The funds are available in neighborhoods that have experienced concentrated firearm violence, including 42 areas across the state - 26 in Chicago and 16 in the suburbs and downstate. The effort is designed to support both short-term needs and address long-term causes of firearm violence to safeguard impacted communities through research-based violence prevention methods.

“Many Illinois communities have been impacted by firearm violence,” Peters said. “In order to create true public safety, we must address the underlying causes of violence at the grassroots level, and these grants allow us to do just that.”

Organizations interested in this second round of violence prevention funding are encouraged to use free IDHS resources, including navigator and technical assistance programs, webinars, and a GATA app. These resources are available at www.DHS.illinois.gov/Grants.

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