FROM HEARTLAND: The research shared is unambiguous: violence, poverty, and trauma reinforce each other and disproportionately impact historically oppressed communities. And through this new report, Heartland argues that an effective anti-violence strategy must include a long-term commitment to eliminating inequity and paving a pathway of opportunity.

Here are just some of the startling findings within our report:

• Poverty continues to pose barriers to a substantial number of Illinoisans. Over one-third of Illinoisans and nearly half of Chicagoans are considered low-income or living in poverty.
• People living in poverty experience violence at high rates. Nationwide, households with very low incomes experience a rate of violent victimization that is 206% higher than people with household incomes of $75,000 per year or greater.
• The justice system has long been a tool for violence against communities of color and a driver of inequity, stripping communities of people and opportunity. The criminal justice system disproportionately applies negative consequences to people of color at every step in the process and creates lasting barriers to employment, housing, and opportunity.
• The human services infrastructure Illinois needs to prevent violence, address trauma, and end poverty in our communities in the long-term is being decimated. Due to a long 20 months without a state budget, the very programs that help address the long-term drivers of violence have been eroding and in some cases disappearing. 

And while the issues demonstrated are complex and long-standing, this report includes a number of policy recommendations that, we hope, can bring healing and results to those most impacted.

Report attached and here: https://www.heartlandalliance..../FINAL_PR17_3_14.pdf