CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Oji Eggleston is the executive director of Chicago Survivors.
"Chicago Survivors provides resources and support for families that lose a loved one to homicide in Chicago. We have our crisis responders who are responding to a homicide in the Chicagoland area within two to four hours," Eggleston told WBBM Newsradio.
He said the quick response is crucial.
"We want to ensure that families receive information about resources available to them at their most troubling times. They also provide deescalation, which is very important because when the family learns about the loss of a loved one, of course there's heightened emotion," Eggleston said.
He said the goal is to reduce the risk of additional violence and reverse what he calls a troubling trend.
"2019 the homicide rate was high. 2020 the homicide rate was 50 percent higher, and we're also seeing those same rates in 2021," Eggleston said.
While Chicago Survivors gets some funding from government and foundations, "It is not enough. Chicago Survivors responds to all homicides that we're notified of with only a staff of 22 people," he explained.
To find out more about Chicago Survivors or to donate, visit chicagosurvivors.org.
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