City leaders announce new round of violence reduction grants

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and the Office of Public Health and Safety announced another round of grants that aim to help community organizations reduce violence in the city.

Five community organizations were awarded the grants, which total $140,000. The additional funding was provided through the American Rescue Plan, which was created during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The organizations have a focus on helping individuals with mental health issues and the younger population. More than 30 organizations applied for the grants.

“This grant program has allowed our office to work hand in hand with the community based organizations as we seek to provide alternatives to violence to some of our most at risk community members, including young people this year, thanks to federal funding,” said Lauren Rodriguez, director of the Office of Public Health and Safety, at a press conference Monday.

The organizations received the funding through the Community Based Violence Reduction Partnership, which began in 2018. The organizations are the Boys and Girls Club of Indianapolis PIVOT Program, Brookside CDC, VOICES, Reach for Youth and RecycleForce.

“The driving motivation for this effort has been our conviction in working arm and arm with community members. Indianapolis’ most effective advocates for our neighborhoods are the neighbors themselves. No one knows a neighborhood better than the people in the neighborhood,” Hogsett said.

This year has been a particularly violent year in Indianapolis and other cities across the country. About 200 people have been killed this year in the city.

Hogsett’s violence reduction plan includes $15 million per year over the course of three years.