Portland's Safe Blocks program works toward gun violence prevention amid rising levels

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Despite historically high levels of gun violence in recent years, a new report is showing Portland as a leader in gun violence prevention.

Identified as a top ten city for violence prevention by the organization Community Justice, the report looked at 100 cities with the highest levels of gun violence and scored them based on their community-based prevention programs.

Portland scored well for its focus on intervention, mentorship, workforce and school-based programs. But fell short for the community's lack of a diversion program in the criminal justice system, addressing behavioral health deserts and partner violence programs.

Overall, Portland scored a 39/100 last year and a 77/100 this year.

Within the City of Portland's Community Safety Division, the Safe Blocks Program is currently working to identify neighborhoods with high levels of gun violence and social vulnerabilities like poverty, education and housing status. These include the Hazelwood and Elliot neighborhoods, in particular. City leaders believe this has helped reduce gun-related homicides by 20 percent since July 2022.

The program also looks to add lighting, improve parks, create greenways and more safe sidewalks. This is primarily because research shows increased access to green space improves psychological factors, social cohesion and allows the community to better get together to address crime and violence.

KOIN 6 News has previously covered the programs based on helping intervene for individuals at risk of gun violence through mentorship and case management

But what happens in a neighborhood is up to the neighborhood, according to Andrew Culbertson, a Safe Blocks Program supervisor.

"Understand what problems they see in the neighborhood that may contribute to crime, that contribute of feelings of not being safe and then trying to address those issues," he said.

Right now in Hazelwood, Safe Blocks is talking with people who live there about what they want.

"We really rely on the voices of those who are most impacted by the violence and crime and who will be most impacted by our interventions," added Culbertson.

Culberson also highlighted the Rose City Self Defense classes that open for Hazelwood in April. They teach people self defense, bias awareness and even de-escalation techniques so people can protect themselves.