AUSTIN (KXAN) — City Council voted last week to allocate $1 million to community violence intervention efforts. Last budget cycle, $500,000 city dollars were allocated.
This money falls under Austin Public Health, which the city’s Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) operates under. Additional funds were allocated to trauma and victim services efforts, as listed below, according to the City.
- $500,000 to aid survivors in recovery from trauma.
- $350,000 to support shelter operations for victims of domestic violence.
- $350,000 to provide navigation services for families and victims of violence and abuse.
- $300,000 in one-time funding to support for children who are victims of violent crimes.
What does community violence intervention look like in Austin?
ATX Peace is Austin’s primary community violence intervention – or CVI – organization. It’s a combination of nonprofits Life Anew and Jail to Jobs and the OVP.
ATX Peace operates under the OVP and involves “trusted messengers” — people with their own experiences with violence and/or incarceration — to connect with community members in either violence-prone areas.
Last year, the OVP began working on a program meant to make sure suspects and felons, specifically related to domestic violence charges, don’t have guns.
Expanding reach, concern about cuts elsewhere
“Continued support that would allow us to continue to support at a greater capacity,” said Michael Salazar, a trusted messenger with ATX Peace.
In March, the city of Austin announced $1,184,000 in federal dollars dedicated to CVI measures were canceled as part of nationwide federal funding cuts. That concerned Salazar and others at ATX Peace, who already want to expand their current boots-on-the-ground reach.
“If I’m being honest, I think we’ve been stretched thin,” he said. “Right now, there are families that aren’t being served. Right now, there are phone calls that aren’t being answered.
Shortly after national cuts were announced, the State included additional funding for such measures as well via “a competitive process through Project Safe Neighborhoods. Interested Community Violence Intervention programs throughout the state would have to submit an application.”