Chicago City Wire

The Government Alliance for Safe Communities (GASC) has launched a $20 million grant initiative to support Community Violence Intervention work in the greater Chicago area, reinforcing its commitment to enhance community safety. The initiative will ensure the continuation of public funding, integral to the organization's broader plan to allocate $100 million for such efforts throughout 2025.

Lanetta Haynes Turner, Chief of Staff for Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, emphasized the unique collaboration, saying, “The GASC represents an unprecedented level of coordination, not only across government, but across key sectors in our region.” The collaboration includes partnerships with philanthropic, business, and non-profit entities.

Delrice Adams, Executive Director of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, highlighted the importance of ongoing investment, stating, “This is a critical period for continued investment. While we are seeing gradual improvement in rates of gun violence, we must ensure sustainability to these lifesaving programs and maintain support for quality service."

The Cook County Community Violence Intervention (CC-CVI) grant initiative, managed by the Cook County Justice Advisory Council, will fund services like street outreach and case management targeting residents most at risk of gun violence. According to Avik Das, Executive Director of the Council, this initiative is “a direct result of sustained collaboration among GASC agencies and it represents our commitment to innovation and supporting the success of community-based organizations.”

The first round of 2025 funding saw more than $60 million awarded to various programs, including $46 million from the Reimagine Violence Prevention Services Program. Quiwana Bell, Assistant Secretary of Firearm Violence Prevention, acknowledged the cross-sector alliance's role in addressing gun violence, asserting, “By expanding access to evidence-based services and support, we are collectively forging a path toward transformative change—one where every community can experience true safety, healing, and restoration.”

Additionally, the City of Chicago has initiated two CVI grant initiatives totaling $14.4 million for Street Outreach Services and $1.5 million for Hospital-Based Violence Intervention. This effort aims to manage a network of community-based organizations that provide CVI services in regions heavily impacted by violence. Deputy Mayor for Community Safety, Garien Gatewood, noted, "The City's targeted approach to addressing violence through collaboration and partnership is leading to decreasing violent crime and helping communities heal."

Dr. Olusimbo Ige, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, stated, “We are investing in community violence intervention (CVI) programs because street outreach by credible messengers and behavioral science-informed interventions help de-escalate stressful situations before they lead to violence."

Since 2021, the GASC has overseen over $350 million in public investments aimed at enhancing community safety throughout Chicago. The organization remains focused on streamlining funding processes, building cross-sector partnerships, and offering support to community-based groups working to improve safety in the region.

For more information on funding opportunities, visit ILGovAlliance.org.