Seattle advances first phase of multi-pronged initiative to improve community safety and strengthen neighborhoods
Seattle is investing $14.7 million in community partnerships as the first step in a broader strategy to improve safety across the city. By working closely with City Council, city departments, county partners, community experts, and families who have lost loved ones to gun violence, Seattle is building the coordinated response this moment demands. This approach centers prevention, focuses resources where violence is most concentrated, and ensures trusted community leaders are at the center of the work to interrupt cycles of harm.
“My team and I have spent time grieving with victims’ families, connecting with community members, and talking about the changes that we need to make as a city,” said Mayor Katie Wilson. “We have to do better for our kids. Hope alone is not enough—our responsibility is to turn hope into action. My job is to do everything I can to make our communities safer and give every young person in Seattle the chance to grow up free from the fear of gun violence.”
Through this investment, the Human Services Department (HSD) has awarded funding to 19 community-based organizations implementing three evidence-informed approaches: violence intervention services, school-based safety services, and community supportive services.
Future phases will build on this foundation to strengthen safety, stability, and long-term well-being for communities across Seattle.
“Community safety is built through strong relationships and coordinated support,” said HSD Director Tanya Kim. “These investments help connect people to services when they need them most and strengthen the partnerships that are essential to improving safety across Seattle.”
Intervention Services
HSD is investing in specialized services for individuals involved in the majority of gun violence incidents, with referrals from Safety Network Providers, the Seattle Police Department (SPD), hospitals, self-referrals and community providers. Three service levels are included in this strategy: hospital-based, intensive individual services, and place-based services.
- Hospital-based Intervention
Building on our partnership with Harborview Medical Center, this strategy provides critical bedside support following a gun injury. Gun shot victims, and the families of gunshot victims, will receive a comprehensive needs assessment, advocacy with medical staff and families, and other critical supports.
Awardees:
- Intensive Individual Services
This strategy focuses on a small subset of individuals involved in the majority of gun violence. Providers will deliver 1:1 or group services for up to 18 months using mentorship, coaching, and therapeutic approaches for longer-term stability.
Awardees:
- Place-Based Services
This strategy focuses on the neighborhoods experiencing disproportionate gun violence, identified through SPD and other City data. Services will include outreach, conflict mediation, hotspot stabilization, and incident recovery.
Awardees:
School-based Safety Services
This strategy focuses support on prioritized Seattle Public Schools high schools and middle schools. Onsite safety teams will provide conflict mediation, safe passages, case management, and access to a family resource fund.
Awardees:
Supportive Services
This strategy focuses on case management and resource navigation coordinated between multiple agencies to help people access all services and resources needed to address their basic needs. Services will include housing stabilization, employment support, food access, and mental health services.
Awardees:
HSD expects to engage and support more than 4,000 people annually in services offered across the three strategies, with intervention services focused on a small subset of individuals at highest risk.
Continuous Improvement
All awarded providers will operate under a shared set of measurable outcomes and workforce standards as part of the City’s multi-pronged strategy to reduce gun violence. This includes plans for ongoing training, and in some cases, professional certifications. Organizations will report regularly on progress toward consistent performance measures to track impact across programs.
To support continuous improvement across these efforts, HSD will engage an external evaluator to provide technical assistance and develop a shared accountability framework. This work will help identify opportunities to strengthen programs, expand what is working, and ensure investments are delivering meaningful results for communities.
HSD will continue working alongside community, City, and County partners to coordinate services and ensure support remains accessible to the communities most impacted by gun violence.