PEORIA, Ill. – An initiative with a focus on reducing violence in parts of Peoria is under a potential criminal investigation.
A Peoria Police spokeswoman says there is an investigation being conducted regarding House of Hope’s Cure Violence.
The violence prevention initiative was to cover Peoria’s South Side, but the Peoria City County Board of Health terminated its agreement with Cure Violence earlier this month.
Peoria County Board of Health President Mike Kennedy spoke to Peoria City Council members Tuesday night about the termination. He says there were “logistical issues” trying to get House of Hope to comply with grant funding requirements for its Cure Violence initiative, occurring over the past several months.
“As a result of that, Minority Business Development did a quick audit of the financial standing of that particular project and found some funding discrepancies. It was reported to the Peoria Police Department and initiated an investigation. It is now in the hands of the Peoria state’s attorney,” Kennedy said.
Public Health Administrator Monica Jendrickson, in a statement to WMBD Radio on Wednesday, says the department learned about the investigation after the partnership with Cure Violence ended.
“The Peoria City/County Health Department was made aware of the investigation after we have finalized our termination with House of Hope. Our 30-day notice of termination was on July 18, 2024, with a final termination date of August 17, 2024. House of Hope has until Friday, September 13 to submit final fiscal documentation, and they have until October 1 to return any unspent funds. As part of any grant or contract closure, we will go through an internal audit process to close out the grant. Additionally, for Cure Violence the Health Department will hire an external auditor as well,” Hendrickson said.
At-large Councilman Zach Oyler called the issue “frustrating” and reminded council members about a vote from two years ago, where the city rejected spending $25,000 on the initiative.
“Two years ago, we voted this down for concerns over lack of oversight, lack of due diligence, not being prepared to take on a program,” Oyler said. “And as a result of that, a number of us around the Horseshoe were told that we were making this a race-related issue, and not an issue based on the facts of the situation.”
Peoria City Manager Patrick Urich says of the $650,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding that the initiative was to receive, only around $382,000 was actually dispersed. He says any unspent dollars will have to be re-obligated by the end of the year, and then be spent by the end of 2026.
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