Politics
Community Violence Intervention Investments Have Helped Reverse Chicago’s Shooting, Homicide Trends: Report
(Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)
A new study has found that increased investments in a violence intervention program that targets Chicago communities and hotspots with the highest rates of gun violence have led to continued declines in the number of shootings and homicides.
Those findings were included in a new report from the Government Alliance for Safe Communities (GASC), which included research from Northwestern University’s Center for Neighborhood Engaged Research and Science.
According to the report, areas that received higher levels of public investment in the Community Violence Intervention (CVI) program saw increased services, stronger program participation and the largest public safety gains.
That comes as Chicago closed out 2025 with its fewest homicides recorded in six decades. The city recorded 416 homicides and also saw double-digit declines in the number of shootings, robberies, carjackings, aggravated assaults and total violent crime victimizations compared to 2024.
“This achievement reflects the unwavering dedication, strategic coordination, and strong partnerships among city agencies, community organizations, and residents working together to make our neighborhoods safer,” Garien Gatewood, Chicago’s deputy mayor for Community Safety, said in a statement. “The GASC’s sustained investment and collaboration with local CVI groups have proven to be highly effective, addressing local hot spots and community needs while preventing potential violent incidents before they happen.”
GASC agencies — which include Chicago, Cook County and the state of Illinois — have collectively awarded $248 million in CVI funding since 2022, according to the city, serving more than 27,000 people over that time, a majority of whom are young Black men who live in communities with the highest levels of gun violence.
The largest amounts of funding, which helps provide employment and mental health supports, went to priority areas with the highest need.
And according to the report, those community areas with the greatest CVI investment, totaling more than $500,000 per quarter, saw the largest reversals in shooting trends following pandemic-era spikes in gun violence.
“This impact report affirms that public sector investments in CVI are reaching the right people and contributing to safer communities,” Lanetta Haynes Turner, the chief of staff for Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, said in a statement. “The GASC has developed a model of active, cross-sector collaboration and strategic investment that is proving to be a model for meeting our biggest challenges. We remain committed to this work in 2026 and beyond.”
