The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency recently awarded the City of Bethlehem a $726,000 violence prevention grant to implement Better Blocks for Bethlehem, a neighborhood-level violence and injury prevention program. The grant is meant to help cities address social determinants of health and safety that contribute to neighborhood conditions.

The project will begin with an assessment of five selected neighborhoods to identify specific needs related to violence, safety, and overall quality of life issues. Bethlehem Health Bureau staff and community volunteers began surveying residents during the last week of August.

Based on survey feedback, the Health Bureau will develop neighborhood improvement plans that include programs and services specifically tailored to address each neighborhood’s unique needs. City departments, including Community and Economic Development, Public Works, Police and Fire, as well as local community organizations, will be engaged in plan development and delivery of programs and services in these neighborhoods to enhance overall community safety, health and connectedness.

The Better Blocks for Bethlehem program continues the city’s progress in tackling the community’s biggest systemic challenges with sophisticated, data driven, and community-centered solutions that promote inclusion, opportunity and equity across Bethlehem.

For more information about Better Blocks for Bethlehem, please contact 610-865-7083.

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