Outcome
Residents of participating neighborhoods feel safe and can effectively work with police and other partners to address safety issues.
Strategy
No one wants to live in a neighborhood where crime is perceived to be an ongoing chronic issue. Safety impacts every aspect of neighborhood health – decisions to buy or invest in a home, resident relationships, and the capacity to manage issues. A neighborhood with a history of safety issues has a community image that says "dysfunctional", "risky", "keep out". Such perceptions have a huge impact on the viability of any neighborhood.
Community Impact's safety strategy focuses on changing characteristics that impact perception of neighborhood safety. There are four cornerstones for implementation: committed block leaders, a community-wide coalition, strong code enforcement, and a strong partnership with local police. Each year, Community Impact conducts block leader training for all participating neighborhoods to provide resident leaders with the tools to effectively build relationships with other residents on their block and to address threats to the health and safety of their block. The block leader training and other neighborhood activities are used as forums for residents to strengthen their relationships with the City's codes enforcement division, the local police department and other organizations that focus on crime reduction and safety. With improved safety conditions, strong relationships and a strong block leader program in place, the focus shifts from mobilizing against threats to monitoring and managing issues before they become threats. This structure is key to long-term sustainability.