Preventing and Responding to Violence. Background: The interim final rule highlighted that some types of violence had increased during the pandemic and that the ability of victims to access services had decreased, noting as an example the challenges that individuals affected by domestic violence face in accessing services. Accordingly, the interim final rule enumerated as an eligible use, in disproportionately impacted communities, evidence-based community violence intervention programs. Following the release of the interim final rule, Treasury received several recipient questions regarding whether and how funds may be used to respond to an increase in crime, violence, or gun violence in some communities during the pandemic. Treasury released further guidance identifying how enumerated eligible uses and eligible use categories under the interim final rule could support violence reduction efforts, including rehiring public sector staff, behavioral health services, and services to address negative economic impacts of the pandemic that may aid victims of crime. The guidance also identified an expanded set of enumerated eligible uses to address increased gun violence. Public Comment: Several commenters expressed support for this use of funds. Treasury Response: In the final rule, Treasury is maintaining enumerated eligible uses in this area and clarifying how to apply eligibility standards. Throughout the final rule, enumerated eligible uses should respond to an identified impact of the COVID–19 public health emergency in a reasonably proportional manner to the extent and type of harm experienced. Many of the enumerated eligible uses—like behavioral health services, services to improve employment opportunities, and services to address educational disparities in disproportionately impacted communities—that respond to the public health and negative economic impacts of the pandemic may also have benefits for reducing crime or aiding victims of crime. For example, the pandemic exacerbated the impact of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking; enumerated eligible uses like emergency housing assistance, cash assistance, or assistance with food, childcare, and other needs could be used to support survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking who experienced public health or economic impacts due to the pandemic. Public Comment: Several commenters expressed support for community violence intervention programs or argued that traditional public safety approaches had neg...
