Politics

Cook County Officials Award $4M to Suburban Groups Supporting Victims of Gun Violence

Cook County officials on Friday announced they’re awarding more than $4 million in grant funding to community-based organizations that provide support to survivors of gun violence.

County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and the county’s Justice Advisory Council awarded the grants — which will support survivors in suburban communities — through the Wraparound Services for Survivors of Gun Violence (CC-SGV) initiative.

That program provides funding for numerous services including crisis intervention, emergency financial assistance and behavioral health.

Preckwinkle said the funding is an investment in “safer, stronger neighborhoods for everyone.”

“Every life lost to gun violence is a person, a family and a community forever changed. We’ve made real progress in driving down gun violence in Cook County, but too many families are still living with its aftermath,” Preckwinkle said in a statement. “This investment is about meeting them where they are — helping survivors heal, not just cope. Trauma left unaddressed doesn’t just harm individuals; it destabilizes entire communities.”

Launched in 2025, the CC-SGV initiative began with a $5 million investment in Chicago-based service programs. This latest round of funding includes an additional $4.2 million for nine community-based organizations focused in suburban areas that have experienced elevated rates of gun violence. The announcement follows community engagement and listening sessions in Chicago Heights, Dolton, Harvey and Maywood.

The CC-SGV initiative seeks to address gaps in services by focusing on three priorities: expanding existing services, increasing access and improving coordination.

Cook County’s Justice Advisory Council manages that initiative with a goal of enhancing community safety through the expansion of stabilizing services to both residents impacted by gun violence and those most likely to be involved in a shooting.

Cook County has seen gun homicides drop by around 50% since 2021, officials said. Through Labor Day, the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed 334 gun homicides in 2026, which is up nearly 7% compared to the same time last year.

”Investing in South suburban communities is critical to ensuring survivors of gun violence and their families have access to the support, resources, and services they need to heal and move forward,” Cook County Commissioner Kisha McCaskill said in a statement. “By strengthening these partnerships, we can extend our reach and ensure resources are getting directly into the communities that need them most.”

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