SITE OVERVIEW ♦ BUFFALO | NEW YORK
Target Area: Buffalo Promise Neighborhood • Population: 12,000
Fiscal Agent: Westminster Foundation
Research Partner: University of Buffalo Regional Institute/Urban Design
Crime Concerns: Gang-related violence, drug-related crimes, juvenile delinquency, and violent crimes
BCJI Funding Year: 2012 Planning & Implementation
Neighborhood Profile
Situated in the northeast section of Buffalo, the Buffalo Promise neighborhood is a predominantly African American community (72%) that suffers from several systemic disadvantages including high poverty, low homeownership, and vacant properties. The target area has a total crime risk 100 percent higher than the statewide average and 40 percent higher than the national average. A majority of students (60%) report that they do not feel safe traveling to and from school and also feel more vulnerable at school. In addition to the challenges faced by the target area, Buffalo as a whole lacks corporate and philanthropic assets of other large cities – only two national corporations are headquartered in the city and they primarily focus their efforts on public health, education, and cultural issues at the expense of crime and public safety.
Planning Process
The Westminster Foundation led a cross-sector partnership comprised of the City of Buffalo, the Buffalo Police Department, Buffalo Urban League, research partners from the University of Buffalo Regional Institute (UBRI), and several community groups. The work of this team was heavily focused on improving the collective efficacy of the target neighborhood to address crime in conjunction with Promise efforts to improve educational outcomes in the community. Additionally, the program placed a high emphasis on addressing crime hot spots. Through the intensive community and stakeholder driven planning process that was guided by Friedman’s Results Based Accountability model, information was generated on the challenges and assets within the neighborhood via a range of quantitative and qualitative methods such as a survey of neighborhood residents. After an analysis of several data sources was performed to help understand the patterns of various crime types, the BCJI partners recommended focusing on the following types of crimes and criminal activity:
- Violent crimes: These include assaults, robberies, rapes, and murder. A GIS (Geographic Information System) analysis revealed that violent crimes in the target area are concentrated in four hot spots: Comstock Avenue and its side streets from Hewitt Avenue to Lisbon Avenue, the immediate blocks of Westminster Community Charter School, Lisbon Avenue between Main Street and Cordova Avenue, and the area near the corner of Pannell Street and East Amherst.
- Burglaries: An analysis using 911 calls for service revealed that on average, one burglary occurs in the target area every other day. Most of these burglaries (88%) are targeted residences and occur during the day between 6AM and 6PM.
- Drug activity/gang activity: An analysis of 911 calls for service revealed that drug activity and gang activity are concentrated near various areas such as the corner of Shirley Avenue and Comstock Avenue and a several block area bounded by Hewitt Avenue to the north, Suffolk Street to the east, Bailey Avenue to the west, and Kensington Avenue to the south.
Implementation Strategies
As a result of the planning phase, BCJI partners selected to implement the following strategies aimed to reduce crime and improve the quality of life for residents:
- Increased police presence, by increasing the number of foot patrols and surveillance cameras.
- Targeted outreach to youth and families, by providing case management services through the Council for Unity and the Buffalo Urban League.
- Enhance community empowerment and engagement, through training from Cambridge Leadership Associates to increase capacity building and anti-violence and gang suppression and prevention efforts.
- Promote neighborhood and housing revitalization, through rehabilitation efforts.
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