Havens of Opportunity, Peace & Empowerment

The Havens of Opportunity, Peace and Empowerment in Communities Experiencing High Rates of Gun Violence (H.O.P.E.) program is administered by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) through its Office of Gun Violence Prevention (OGVP). DCJS is a statewide agency responsible for supporting public safety initiatives, including crime data analysis, funding administration, and program development aimed at reducing violence and improving justice system outcomes. The H.O.P.E. initiative is part of New York’s broader strategy to address gun violence as a public health crisis, emphasizing community-based, equity-driven prevention approaches that prioritize neighborhoods disproportionately impacted by violence. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to establish or expand neighborhood-based “havens” in targeted areas within New York City boroughs. These havens are intended to function as safe, trusted, and accessible community spaces that provide consistent programming during high-risk hours, specifically evenings from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and weekends. The initiative prioritizes youth and young adults up to age 24 and seeks to foster healing, connection, and skill-building through trauma-informed and culturally relevant programming. Activities must address root causes of violence and promote long-term well-being through a combination of therapeutic services, educational programming, recreation, and community engagement. Funding will support five organizations, one in each New York City borough, with approximately 5,000,000 dollars available in total and up to 1,000,000 dollars per award over a two-year contract period. Funds may be used for staffing, programming, infrastructure improvements, and operational costs necessary to maintain extended hours and effective service delivery. A key requirement is that at least 40 percent of each award must be subcontracted to local grassroots organizations to ensure community-driven implementation. Funding must supplement existing resources and cannot replace other funding sources. Indirect costs for nonprofit applicants are capped at 15 percent, and up to 5 percent of funds may be used for performance monitoring activities. Eligible applicants are nonprofit 501(c)(3) community-based organizations with demonstrated experience operating in designated high-violence zip codes within New York City. Applicants must not already be funded under certain overlapping state programs and must be prequalified in the New York Statewide Financial System at the time of submission. Each organization may submit only one application and must propose programming located within one of the specified eligible zip codes. Applicants must also demonstrate the ability to coordinate partnerships across sectors, including schools, community groups, law enforcement, and service providers. The application process requires submission through the DCJS Grants Management System. Applicants must complete program narrative responses, submit a detailed budget with justification, and include required attachments. Narrative responses are scored based on criteria such as organizational capacity, program design, community partnerships, data collection strategies, infrastructure readiness, and youth engagement. Applications undergo a multi-tier evaluation process, including eligibility screening, scoring, and final selection by DCJS leadership based on strategic priorities and available funding. Key deadlines include an application submission deadline of July 1, 2026 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time, and a question submission deadline of April 29, 2026, with responses posted around May 13, 2026. Awards are anticipated to be announced on August 1, 2026, with contracts expected to begin on October 1, 2026 and continue for 24 months. The program is not described as recurring, and funding decisions are subject to state approval processes. For inquiries, applicants must contact DCJS via email at [email protected], as no alternative methods for substantive questions are permitted.

Focus heavily on program narrative and community partnerships sections as they carry high scoring weight; ensure all required core services are included or risk zero scoring; demonstrate strong local partnerships and subcontracting strategy; align programming with trauma-informed and culturally relevant approaches