NJ Invests Record $10M To Help Nonprofits Fight Gun Violence

NEWARK, NJ — New Jersey officials are hoping that the state’s largest-ever investment in community-based violence intervention programs will make a big difference for crime victims – and stop future tragedies from happening.

On Thursday, Acting Attorney General Andrew Bruck announced that the Department of Law and Public Safety will be committing $12 million in grant funding to reduce gun violence and support crime victims across the state.

That funding includes $10 million to support Community-Based Violence Intervention (CBVI) programs in New Jersey: the state’s largest-ever investment.

According to a statement from Bruck, CBVI programs – which try to address the root causes of violence with social services – have a track record of success. The attorney general said that they have reduced homicides by as much as 60 percent in some communities, largely through street outreach, mentoring, hosting trauma recovery programs and connecting people with social and economic resources.

Bruck said the $10 million in CBVI funding was included in the state’s Fiscal Year 2022 budget.

The news got a stamp of approval from Gov. Phil Murphy.

“This funding will support victims of crime in rebuilding their lives, while also preventing crime through intervention efforts and other community-based solutions,” Murphy said. “I applaud Acting Attorney General Bruck for his continued leadership on this critical issue.”

“We cannot end gun violence unless we invest in the people working on the ground to make their communities safer,” Bruck said. “We recognize that prosecutors and police cannot end gun violence on their own, and this funding will strengthen the community partners who are so essential to building safer neighborhoods.”

In Newark, the funding boost is expected to be a huge help in a city where eight people were recently wounded in a single night of violence. Read More: Newark 'Shocked, Disgusted' As Wave Of Shootings Rocks City

“I am thankful for Governor Murphy and Acting Attorney General Bruck’s commitment to combatting gun violence in our communities, and for understanding the need for alternative violence reduction initiatives,” Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said.

“Here in Newark, my administration and our residents work collectively to create a safer city, and we strongly believe in strategically investing in community-based public safety with a public health and trauma-informed approach,” Baraka said.

• See related article: Newark Will Take $12M From Police, Reinvest In Social Services
• See related article: Newark Police Recruits, Social Workers Graduate Side-By-Side
• See related article: Newark Committing $19M To Help Curb Violence In The City

The latest wave of state funding will also include $2 million in COVID-19 relief funds to provide emergency housing for crime victims.

According to Bruck’s office, the money will help “high-risk victims of crime” who face threats within their community and need to relocate – especially those who have been forced to move because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Bruck stated:

“Funding for this program will be used to provide emergency housing services in two purpose areas. The first includes $1 million for a single entity to provide statewide emergency housing services specifically to victims of domestic violence. The second purpose area includes $1 million for applicants to provide COVID-19 emergency housing for all other victims of violence including sexual assault, human trafficking and gun violence, with individual grant awards up to $50,000.”

The program is supported by the federal Fiscal Year 2020 Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding (CESF) grant.

State officials are currently accepting applications from nonprofits and other community organizations for the $12 million in grant funds. For the full eligibility and application requirements, the NOAFs and application guidelines/instructions for each funding opportunity are available online at www.njoag.gov/resources/grant-opportunities/notices-of-available-funds/ .

• See related article: Healing From Violence: Newark Youth Find Refuge At 'The Hubb'
• See related article: Huge Anti-Violence Rally In Newark Includes Gang Truce Talks
• See related article: Newark Joins National Violence Prevention Alliance

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