The Richmond Office of Neighborhood Safety (ONS), often credited with helping to drive down the city’s homicide rate, will receive $6 million over three years as part of a $107 million statewide investment announced by Governor Gavin Newsom.
The funds, part of the California Violence Intervention and Prevention (CalVIP) program, support 42 communities using evidence-based strategies to reduce gun violence, according to the Governor’s Office. Richmond ONS has successfully secured this funding stream in every grant cycle since the program’s inception in 2007.
This consistent support has helped Richmond reach a historic safety milestone. In 2025, the city recorded just five homicides, the lowest total since records began and a significant drop from the 47 homicides seen in 2007. The ONS uses the $6 million to fund its Peacemaker Fellowship, which pairs high-risk individuals with mentors to interrupt cycles of retaliation.
The Peacemaker Fellowship has helped change the lives of many participants. An evaluation of Richmond’s Cohort 3 grant indicated a variety of successful outcomes through its innovative program, including the development of prosocial behaviors in the 396 youth they served and the furtherance of critical conflict resolution skills. As a Cohort 4 grantee, the city reported 86 successful program participants with 262 episodes of violence interrupted.
“Sustainable funding is critical to this work being successful and CalVIP’s continued support and belief in the work being done in Richmond proves just that,” said Sam Vaughn, Richmond’s Office of Neighborhood Safety deputy director.
Starting in 2024, California began using an 11 percent excise tax on firearm and ammunition sales to fund these grants, moving away from previous reliance on the state’s General Fund.
