Council to Weigh $1.07M for Gun Violence Programs
Seven Champaign organizations are recommended for the funding at a Tuesday, Nov. 10 council meeting.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Violence
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The Champaign City Council will consider a $1.07 million allocation for gun violence prevention and intervention programs at its Tuesday, Nov. 10 meeting. The recommended funding is about $178,000 less than the $1.25 million approved for eight organizations last year.
Why it matters
With federal pandemic relief funding ended, the city has budgeted $1.5 million from its general fund for Blueprint partners this fiscal year. The recommendations come as the city's Community Gun Violence Reduction Blueprint, which began in 2021, moves onto local funding.
The $1.07 million allocation remains a recommendation pending a council vote on Tuesday, Nov. 10. If approved, agreements would cover programs starting this month and running through June 30, 2027.
The players
Champaign City Council
The elected body of Champaign, Illinois, which will vote on the gun violence prevention allocation.
FirstFollowers
A reentry support organization recommended for the largest share of the proposed funding.
Carle Foundation Hospital
A hospital in Champaign-Urbana recommended for hospital-based violence intervention and victim support funding.
The details
FirstFollowers is recommended for $321,415.69 for reentry support, mentoring and workforce development, the largest single award. Other recommended recipients include Stephens Family YMCA ($224,373, after-school programs), Carle Foundation Hospital ($200,000, hospital-based intervention), and the Housing Authority of Champaign County YouthBuild ($150,000, vocational training). Crime Stoppers is not included in the new recommendations.
Timeline
2021: The Community Gun Violence Reduction Blueprint began with federal pandemic relief funding.
Last year: Eight organizations were approved for $1.25 million in funding.
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026: Champaign City Council considers the $1.07 million allocation.
June 30, 2027: Proposed agreements would cover programs through this date.
Legal Context
The recommendations continue the Community Gun Violence Reduction Blueprint launched in 2021 with federal pandemic relief funding. With that federal money ending, the city is now funding Blueprint partners from its general fund, with $1.5 million budgeted this fiscal year.
Residents served by the recommended programs, including reentry, after-school and hospital-based intervention services, would see these services continue if the council approves the funding. The vote on Tuesday determines whether the recommended organizations receive their allocations for the coming fiscal year.
The takeaway
Funding decisions for violence prevention programs now depend on local budgets as federal relief ends. Watching the council's Nov. 10 vote shows whether the city sustains these partnerships at the recommended level.
What happens next
The Champaign City Council will vote on the $1.07 million allocation at its Tuesday, Nov. 10 meeting. If approved, agreements would begin this month and run through June 30, 2027.
Further reading
For related coverage, see Violence reporting on local gun violence prevention efforts in Champaign.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The News-Gazette.
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