CHICAGO (WLS) — A West Side wellness hub that provides community support services is scheduled to open Wednesday as an Emergency Assistance Center for residents impacted by gun violence, even as some Chicago alderpersons raise concerns about whether the approach is effective.
On Tuesday, violence intervention workers walked along Madison Street in West Garfield Park, handing out fliers to spread the word about the center. It will be available from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Sankofa Wellness Center, located near Madison Street and Kildare Avenue.
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The one-day response effort follows a mass shooting that happened just a few blocks away over the weekend.
“Once we have a large shooting that’s involving a number of victims, that will trigger an emergency assistance center,” said Glen Brooks, director of community policing for the Chicago Police Department. “This is an initiative that we started after we consulted with the FBI. Chicago.”
The West Garfield Park location marks the third emergency assistance center to be activated in the last month.
However, several members of the Chicago City Council have challenged the program, questioning whether it is connecting with enough residents who need help.
“We only had three events when we’ve had over 200 people shot this summer this year already tells me that there’s more work that needs to be done, if you’re serious about this,” said 15th Ward Ald. Ray Lopez. “Otherwise, this is just an election year gimmick.”
Chicago police officials said the first two emergency assistance centers held on the South Side drew strong turnout, but skepticism remains among some elected leaders.
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“You can’t just parachute into a neighborhood in the aftermath of trauma and expect people are just going to show up to have the services that you’re offering, no matter how well intended they are, so this seems to be just a waste of money to allow the mayor to say he’s doing something,” said Ald. Brian Hopkins, chair of the City Council’s Public Safety Committee.
The emergency assistance centers offer free mental health support, victim compensation assistance and opportunities for residents to speak with detectives.
“It’s not just a single police table there,” Brooks said. “You will see organizations, you’ll see between 10 to 12 different organizations there who are there to service the community.”
Still, some city council members have expressed concerns that the presence of police could discourage residents who do not trust law enforcement from seeking help.
“The violence interventionists tell us that that’s one of the keys to their success is to be completely separate from the police,” Hopkins said.
Hopkins said he has requested information from the mayor’s office and the Chicago Police Department regarding the cost of the emergency assistance centers but has not yet received it. Others, however, argue the centers are worthwhile if they help even one person recover from trauma.
Meanwhile, some longtime residents who declined to appear on camera because of fears about violence said that while emergency assistance centers may be helpful, they also want basic neighborhood issues addressed, including the replacement of broken street lights.
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