The Reimagine Public Safety Act (RPSA) Emergency Victims Flex Fund is created to provide immediate, flexible, and equitable financial assistance (up to $5,000) to support victims of gun violence and their families. Eligible applicants include victims who live in Aurora and/or whose incident occurred in Aurora.

African American Men of Unity (AAMOU), a nonprofit youth and family organization, serves as the local Violence Prevention Service (VPS) provider and supports victims throughout the application process. To be eligible, victims must be enrolled and actively engaged in the RPSA Violence Prevention Services grant program.

Flex Fund Process

1. Contact VPS grantee Ricky Rodgers (630-606-1910, Ricky1Rodgers@aamou.org) to begin application form and help collect documentation.
2. Sign a release of information for VPS grantee to share your information with Flex Fund Manager. For assistance in Spanish, please contact Elizabeth Nunez, (630) 746-2601, nunezelizabeth@kanecountyil.gov.
   
3. The Flex Fund manager approves, denies, or request additional documentation within 72 hours.
4. If approved, funds will be distributed within 72 hours after application is submitted and approved.

Required Official Documentation

Applicants must provide at least one of the following:

1. Police report clearly identifying the individual as a victim of firearm-related incident.
   
2. A hospital discharge summary or emergency room record indicating treatment for a gunshot wound or firearm-related injury.
3. Written confirmation from a government agency (e.g., victim assistance office, state's attorney's office) verifying the individual's status as a gun violence victim.

Scope of Assistance

The Emergency Victims Flex Fund is intended to provide short-term, needs-based financial assistance that directly supports the immediate health, safety, and stabilization of individuals and families impacted by firearm violence. 

1. Housing Stability Assistance
• Emergency Shelter: hotel/motel stays: up to $3000
• Emergency Relocation (e.g., moving expenses, short-term rental costs): up to $5,000
• Rental Assistance (e.g., first month's rent, arrears): up to $5,000
2. Medical and Behavioral Health Support
• Medical Care or hospital costs, not covered by insurance (e.g., wound care, follow-up appointments): up to $2,000
• Mental health counseling not covered by insurance (licensed providers only): up to $2,000
3. Essential Needs Support
• Basic Necessities (e.g., food, medication, hygiene supplies): up to $2,000
• Emergency transportation or vehicle repair (incident-related): up to $2,500
• Childcare: up to $2,000
4. Document Replacement and Other Emergency Supports
• Government-issued ID, death certificated, birth certificates, filing fees, etc.: up to $1,000
• Clothing and personal items lost or damaged due to the incident: up to $1,500
  

Who Can Apply?

1. Victim/survivor directly affected by gun violence
2. Immediate family members
• Spouse: legally married or in a legal domestic partnership with the victim
• Children: biological, adopted, or stepchildren under the age of 18, or adult children who are financially dependent on the victim
• Parents: biological, adoptive, or stepparents of the victim
• Siblings: biological, adopted, or stepsiblings of the victim who reside in the same household or are economically dependent on victim
• Other dependents: any individual for whom the victim is the primary caregiver and who resides in the same household.

Guidelines

1. Have to be enrolled and actively engaged with service program.
2. Incidents that happened up to 3 years old are eligible.
   
3. Gun violence victims that live in Aurora are eligible to apply.
   
4. Gun violence incidents that happened in Aurora are eligible to apply.
   
5. Funding can be used for expenses incurred on or after July 1, 2025.
   
6. Vendor may need to fill out a W-9 form to receive applicable funds.
7. Gift cards are only allowed for essential needs; record of receipts is mandatory to share with VPS.