Place-Based Violence Intervention Project

Background

In March 2024, the Safe Blocks Program received a $2 million Federal Byrne Grant to fund place-based community violence intervention programming over four years in Portland's Hazelwood, Eliot, and Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhoods. This amounts to approximately $500,000 available in each neighborhood, or about $125,000-$133,000 per neighborhood per year, with projects expected to continue through 2028.

Why these locations?

The Hazelwood, Eliot, and Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhoods suffer from historical disinvestment as well as high rates of violent crime and disproportionate levels of social vulnerability.  

What will our projects look like?

Our projects will involve neighborhood beautification efforts, street paintings, and public art. Our focus is on placemaking projects, which seek to increase safety and build community. We aim to develop projects that have a strong community visioning process so that residents can make personal connections as part of creating public art. Projects such as street murals, graffiti clean-ups, and community gardens invest in the physical environment and reduce crime and violence without additional policing. By having communities lead these events, we build welcoming spaces and activities that work for them and strengthen their connection to local government.

There are two types of projects that will be initiated under the Byrne grant. First, are City-led projects where city staff will fund specific placemaking projects in areas that experience chronic gun violence. These are projects where the scope is fairly defined but we may still contract with local muralists for implementation. The second category of projects will be community-initiated. In summer 2026, we will release a call for proposals where community members and groups can propose projects that involve community members in reducing gun violence.

How will projects be selected?

The projects selected to move forward will be those that:

• Invest in the physical environment;
• Reduce violence; and
• Actively involve community members in the design and development of the projects.

Safe Blocks will consider proposals that support efforts like public art creation, cultural events, place transformation, green spaces, youth programs, and other opportunities identified by the community.

How will we measure success?

The Safe Blocks program strives to impact three key measures of community safety:

• A reduction in shooting incidents;
• Reduced calls for police service; and
• Increased feelings of safety among residents.

Project evaluation will be based on information collected in surveys, interviews, community engagement, and relevant crime statistics. 

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