HSD Releases New Funding Opportunity to Support Safe Communities in Seattle

Protests against police brutality, especially in Black communities, spread across the United States and internationally after the death of George Floyd. Like in many cities, calls for racial justice and community-led solutions to ending violence, led by Black organizers allied with multi-racial and multi-cultural coalitions, echoed and converged with ongoing efforts in Seattle. Through this organizing, legislation to increase funding to reimagine community safety was passed in Seattle. The Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) is seeking applications from community-led groups working to end violence and to reimagine safety in Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) led communities, with a specific focus on Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Pacific Islander, and Immigrant and Refugee communities. The purpose of this funding is to build the capacity of groups working toward community-led solutions to end violence and to increase safety. The Community Safety Capacity Building RFP is investing approximately $10,400,000 in one-time funds for the contract period of July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022 and up to 40 proposals may be funded. All organizations working to create conditions for safety, including ending violence and reducing crime, are encouraged to apply, and priority will be given to Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Pacific Islander, and Immigrant and Refugee-led community groups, as they are most impacted by racism, systems of oppression, and harm from violence and the criminal legal system. Services must take place in Seattle.