City of Chicago Announces Emergency Supplemental Victims’ Fund

Lawndale News Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper - Health

Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), and Community Safety Coordination Center (CSCC) announced the launch of a new nearly $275,000 Emergency Supplemental Victims’ Fund (ESVF) pilot program to ease the financial burden and trauma inflicted on those directly impacted by gun violence. This pilot program will focus on alleviating the immediate financial impacts of shooting incidents by providing financial assistance in set amounts to survivors and their families. This new initiative will start in East and West Garfield Park, Englewood, West Englewood, and New City, with plans to expand to more communities in the future.  Victims who are residents of Chicago and experience a gunshot injury in the designated neighborhoods will be eligible to apply for emergency financial assistance, provided they are not identified by law enforcement as the perpetrators of the crime. Chicago families who lose a loved one to gun violence will be eligible for $1,500 in financial assistance to support funeral or burial costs; victims of physical gun violence injury will be eligible to receive $1,000 in financial assistance to support their needs; and victims, or families in the case of a fatal or debilitating injury, can also receive up to $1,000 for relocation costs.  Funds will be administered by survivor support advocacy groups currently funded by CDPH, including Centers for New Horizons, Breakthrough Urban Ministries, Inc., Institute for Nonviolence Chicago, and Universal Family Connection, Inc.

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