I clearly believe Community Violence Intervention (CVI) is essential to public safety—persistent problems require permanent solutions. Gun violence is a persistent public health and safety crisis in many communities, and CVI is a proven approach to solving this pestering problem. Yet CVI efforts across the country remain underfunded, overextended, and financially insecure. That must change. To sustain CVI, we need public and private investment strategies that are bold, long-term, and aligned with the scale of the challenge.
What Sustainable Investment Requires
- Dedicated Local Public Funding
CVI cannot be sustained on philanthropic or temporary federal funds alone. Cities must commit to investing general fund dollars into their CVI infrastructure—just as they do for fire, police, and EMS. This is a statement of values as much as a budgeting decision.
- State-Level Appropriations
States have an important role to play in scaling CVI. California has led the way with historic investments through the state’s budget and the CalVIP grant program. Other states must follow suit by creating line items and grant programs specifically for CVI.
- Federal Investment That’s Predictable and Flexible
While recent federal support has been unprecedented, the future is uncertain. CVI needs consistent federal funding—through DOJ, HHS, and other agencies—that’s accessible to community-based organizations and allows for local adaptation. The CVIPI initiative should be expanded, not contracted.
- Philanthropic Support That Builds Capacity, Not Just Programs
Philanthropy should continue to play a catalytic role—but it must go beyond project funding. Funders should support capacity-building, leadership development, data systems, and sustainability planning. Unrestricted funding is key to helping CVI organizations innovate and adapt.
- Public-Private Partnerships with Purpose
Cross-sector coalitions—city governments, healthcare providers, businesses, philanthropy—can pool resources to support comprehensive CVI ecosystems. But partnerships must be rooted in equity and led by community priorities.
When funding disappears, so does trust. So does safety. The interrupter who built a relationship today may be gone tomorrow. The fellow who took a risk on change might be left unsupported. The team that de-escalated yesterday’s crisis may not be there for tomorrows.
Temporary funding creates instability. Instability is what CVI exists to confront. We cannot afford to reproduce the same uncertainty we are trying to resolve.
CVI is no longer emerging—it’s established. It’s not a temporary fix—it’s a long-term solution. It’s not a side project—it’s central to any just, effective, and modern approach to public safety.
We have the tools. We have the talent. What we need now is the will—and the sustained investment to match it.
The work is far from done. The future of CVI will be written by the decisions we make today—how we choose to fund peace, support practitioners, shape policy, and build a research foundation that honors the reality of this work.
Let’s keep building. Let’s make peace permanent.