West Central Michigan News

• Mayor announced crime reduction program during last night’s State of the City address
• City seeks community partners to reduce homicides and shootings through community violence intervention in the hardest-hit areas
• Community groups will have flexibility to define their own violence prevention strategies, ability to earn performance grants up to $700K based on success bringing down gun violence
• Applications are due April 10; informational meeting to be held on March 15 for interested organizations.

The City of Detroit is seeking applications from community groups interested in participating in “ShotStoppers,” a new $10 million community violence intervention program announced by Mayor Mike Duggan last night during his State of the City Address.

Each selected group will be responsible for reducing homicides and shootings in a three- to five-square-mile area. The City will allow selected groups the flexibility to define the area they will serve and the violence prevention strategies they will use, based upon their deep knowledge of the causes of violence in local neighborhoods.

Each group will have an expected budget of $700,000 per year, with the ability to earn performance grants up to an additional $700,000 per year if they successfully reduce serious violent crime. Funding for the program will come from the city’s share of American Rescue Plan Act funds and is in addition to the $50 million in ARPA funds already appropriated for public safety initiatives.

“Detroit families deserve to feel safe in their neighborhoods, and this program dramatically expands the City’s investment in violence prevention,” said Mayor Mike Duggan. “We are giving community organizations already working to prevent violence new tools to be successful – and holding them accountable for results by measuring their performance and expanding funding for programs that work.”

Deputy Mayor Todd Bettison, who led development of the new program, says that ShotStoppers will empower community groups throughout the City.

“Community groups in Detroit have been doing violence prevention work for years: they know the people in the community that drive violence and have the relationships and credibility to step in to prevent it,” said Bettison. “Expanding our investment in prevention is a common-sense approach to reduce violence in the City.”

Bettison said that while other cities have successfully implemented CVI programs, he has never seen a city use the approach of offering financial performance incentives to community groups doing the work of preventing violent crime.

Community groups are in the driver’s seat – and accountable for results.

Community violence intervention (CVI) encompasses a broad range of tactics, including street outreach, violence interruption (e.g., conflict mediation, preventing retaliation), connecting at-risk individuals with economic and social services, and addressing community conditions that contribute to violence.

The program will build on the expertise and experience of community organizations already doing this work. Each community group will propose the specific geographic area they will serve – a CVI Zone – and the specific approach they will use to address the causes of violence in that area and ultimately reduce homicides and shootings. The City expects to award approximately $700,000 per year to 3 – 5 community groups to complete this work, with the program’s initial term running from early summer 2023 through summer 2025.

Importantly, the City will also measure outcomes and pay community groups for the results they achieve. Each group will have the opportunity to earn an additional $700,000 per year in performance grants - if they successfully reduce homicides and shootings in their CVI Zone and beat the citywide trend in levels of these serious violent crimes. Groups must re-invest the performance grants to sustain and expand their programs.

Applications now being accepted.

Starting today, community groups can submit applications to participate in the ShotStoppers community violence intervention program. Community groups can submit applications individually or through partnerships with other organizations. Groups without significant experience managing federal grants are strongly encouraged to partner with a fiduciary organization.

The City will host an informational session on March 15 where interested organizations will be able to get questions answered about the program and the application process. The application window will close on April 10, at which point the City will begin the process of selecting community-based organizations. 

To apply, organizations should take the following steps:

1. Register for a Unique Entity ID with SAM.gov 
2. Register as a City supplier at www.detroitmi.gov/supplier 
3. Submit an application through the City’s system at www.detroitmi.gov/supplier 

City Council Support

This new program builds on the efforts of Council Member Fred Durhal III and members of the Gun Violence Task Force.

"As the Chair of the Gun Violence Task Force, I know how important Community Violence Intervention programs are. When we take a community approach to stop gun violence, people who are trusted in our neighborhoods become the direct messengers of peace,” said Council Member Durhal.

“These messengers establish strong relationships in areas that are difficult to penetrate and with at-risk members of our community that may perpetrate violence. Through establishing strong relationships, the opportunity to stop the cycle of retaliation, address trauma, provide intervention, develop alternatives to violence, and ultimately save lives is authentic. This provides safer communities and brighter futures for all our residents."

The City thanks all Task Force members for their invaluable support and expertise.

Original source can be found here.