Kansas City violence prevention groups relieved after budget secures $6 million in funding

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Violence prevention groups are breathing a little easier a day after Kansas City passed its budget.

Organizations like Journey to a New Life feared budget cuts would force them to scale back right when they say the need is growing.

This year, $6 million for Kansas City’s Violence Prevention Fund was on the line. The city council first promised that money back in 2023 but then redirected it to police salaries. Just this week, the city released that $6 million, giving the fund the green light to keep going.

Funding supports reentry programs

The Violence Prevention Fund is guaranteed money for the next fiscal year, including $300,000 for two key programs at Journey to a New Life.

“That funding is used to provide support and resources for men and women coming out of prison,” said Jarion Champ, program quality and education manager at Journey to a New Life.

Champ said this was not a sure thing weeks ago when there was real fear the city could cut back the Violence Prevention Fund.

Thomas Sims volunteers at Journey to a New Life, a place he said helped him find direction when he needed it most.

“I was released in August of ’06, so in August of this year it’ll have been 20 years since I was released,” Sims said.

Nearly two decades later, Sims said he never thought he would be on the other side helping others.

“The song that was playing in my head was Boys II Men, ‘Now that we have come to the end of the road.’ My future, I could not have seen myself where I am today,” Sims said.

“Some of the faith that I built as a result of that, I try to pass it on to other guys,” Sims said.

Data shows return on investment

Dr. Marijana Kotlaja with Justice Systems Partners tracks the program’s results, including a public dashboard that breaks down where the money goes and what it is doing.

“We were at 182 homicides. We are down to 138 as of last year. We’re looking at 114 million in direct costs just for homicide alone,” Kotlaja said.

“For every dollar we’re investing in this program, we’re seeing about six to fourteen dollars in return,” Kotlaja said.

Organizations remain vigilant

Even with funding in place through 2029, organizations say they are still watching closely because future councils could try to revisit it during budget talks.

“I like that they moved it out of the general fund and committed to funding it, so we don’t have to keep battling that. But the fight isn’t over,” Champ said.

Sims said he hopes groups like this can secure even more city support down the road. He said more resources for people leaving prison means more support and more reasons to stay out for good.

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