KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The City of Kalamazoo will be getting a financial boost from Lansing to help fight gun violence.
Most of the grant from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services will be handed over to the Urban Alliance to continue their Change of Status program for another year.
The effort identifies offenders with a history of violence and puts them through a 12-week education and rehabilitation program.
Outreach Director James Harris told Commissioners last month that it may need to be expanded for some of their clients, because they are finding that 12 weeks is not enough. He says 36 weeks is needed.
The program teaches its participants the basic life skills they need to make good choices and avoid bad ones.
10% of the new funding will be spent to hire an independent researcher to evaluate the effectiveness of the Change of Status program.
The City Commission is set to accept the $50,000 grant tonight, and because additional funding has been found, the city has been told it could be doubled.
