Gov. Kathy Hochul promised up to $1 million per borough through the state’s new Havens of Opportunity, Peace and Empowerment (HOPE) program to prevent gun violence in an announcement last Friday, April 10.
The money will go toward establishing or bolstering “havens” in New York City for residents aged 24 and under to safely drop in during weekday evenings and weekends when shootings often peak. These community centers will offer hot meals, counseling and activities ranging from coding workshops to martial arts.
“Public safety is my top priority, and our nation-leading gun laws and prevention programs are making real change across New York’s communities,” said Hochul in a statement. “In 2025, shootings fell to the lowest levels on record statewide. To build on that progress, we’re continuing to invest in the communities most impacted by gun violence. The HOPE initiative will create safe, supportive spaces for young people and families, helping break cycles of violence and making our state safer for all.”
In total, roughly $5 million will be spread across the boroughs to create or expand one haven in each. These centers, which will be operated by established community-based organizations, should “foster healing, connection, and skill-building” and promise to be culturally relevant and trauma informed as gun violence overwhelmingly hits lower-income neighborhoods of color the hardest.
New York State Office of Gun Violence Prevention (OGVP) Director Calliana S. Thomas, whose agency will administer the fund, told the Amsterdam News that HOPE is a “passion project” for her. She sees brick-and-mortar spaces as key to curbing shootings through centralized services and a social space for fellow community members to commiserate.
“What’s very special about this initiative is that it hopes to develop and/or enhance current spaces where people already go, to expand the amount of programming that’s available,” said Thomas. “There’s also some special additions that we’re looking to add in therapeutic services, government navigation, hot meal provision, as well as extended hours.
“Every summer, we’ve seen an uptick in violence and it’s normally around evening hours. How do we create more spaces for our young people that are safe, organized and supervised? And this is one of those initiatives that aims to open these community centers even later into the evening up until 9 p.m.”
HOPE will target 25 specific zip codes, including 11206 in Brooklyn’s Eastern Williamsburg where a stray bullet killed infant Kaori Patterson-Moore earlier this month. The programming also plans on “cross-pollinating” with other gun violence prevention efforts like survivors and faith-based groups to ensure trust and authenticity. The winners are mandated to subcontract 40% of the overall award to smaller grassroots organizations.
Qualified nonprofit providers can apply for the funding by the July 1 deadline at noon. The state will inform winners on Aug. 1 and the contracts are expected to start in October, according to the application. As with all New York State grants, prospective applicants should complete their Statewide Financial System Prequalification. Applicants can send in questions about the fund until April 29 at dcjsfunding@dcjs.ny.gov.
For Thomas, whom Hochul appointed as the inaugural OGVP head in 2022, HOPE is also a full-circle moment as a lifelong Harlem resident. “To now be in these spaces and able to use that experience and voice and the support of the communities that brought me here, as well as the communities that I continue to uplift and work with. It’s an amazing opportunity to be able to give back to those same communities.”