Community Missions Awarded $694K in State Funding for SNUG Violence Prevention

Community Missions of Niagara Frontier will receive $694,280 in state funding to continue its work through the SNUG Street Outreach program, part of a nearly $21 million statewide investment announced by Governor Kathy Hochul.

Community Missions is one of 15 organizations selected to receive a portion of the $20.9 million allocated to support SNUG operations in 2026. The program, administered by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, focuses on reducing gun violence through an evidence-based, public health approach.

SNUG teams employ outreach workers, hospital responders, social workers and case managers who act as “credible messengers,” working directly with individuals considered at highest risk of gun violence. The initiative aims to interrupt cycles of retaliation, connect people with services and promote long-term stability in affected neighborhoods.

“I am proud to continue investing in SNUG and the community-based partners who are doing this lifesaving work every day,” Hochul said. “SNUG is helping keep neighborhoods safer, supporting families in the aftermath of violence and creating real opportunities for young people to thrive. These teams are making a meaningful difference in communities across New York, and we will continue to build on that progress.”

The funding announcement follows the governor’s report that 2025 saw record-low levels of gun violence statewide. Data from the state’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative showed 491 shooting incidents with injury reported last year by participating police departments—the lowest total since tracking began in 2006.

Shooting incidents with injury dropped 16% compared to 2024. The number of people shot declined 22%, from 723 to 566, and fatalities decreased 23%, from 116 to 89.

SNUG operates in designated neighborhoods in Albany, the Bronx, Buffalo, Hempstead, Mount Vernon, Newburgh, Niagara Falls, Poughkeepsie, Syracuse, Rochester, Troy, Utica, Wyandanch and Yonkers. The program currently employs 176 full-time and 46 part-time staff members statewide.

State officials say shooting incidents and gun violence victims in the designated “SNUG zones” declined by double digits compared to 2024, reinforcing the program’s success in communities across New York.

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Community Missions Awarded $694K in State Funding for SNUG Violence Prevention