The first step for GVI and for many gun violence reduction strategies is to conduct a comprehensive problem analysis by outside experts to have a clear assessment of where the violence is happening, why, and what are the dynamics in place. This will then indicate where law enforcement, social services, and community voices can most effectively focus their resources to drive the number of shootings to 0.

We want $10 million in ARPA funds to be allocated as seed money for a Housing Trust Fund in Richland County. A key for a HTF to be effective is to have a dedicated source of revenue down the line, but we need seed money to get started. An Affordable Housing Trust Fund has the potential to create hundreds and even thousands of units of housing each year and that is what we need to make sure everyone in Richland County has a safe and affordable place to live.