Hochul announces $1.4 million to help East Buffalo citizens affected by shooting

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)-- Guv Kathy Hochul announced Friday that more than $1.4 million in funds that will go towards supporting psychological health programs in East Buffalo following the Tops supermarket shooting last year.

The grant will provide $1 million to go towards establishing ‘‘ Reimagine: I am the Change,' a fund that will support grassroots, community-based initiatives to help for culturally relevant mental wellness and healing practices.

An extra $363,250 will support the Black Mental Health Response Team, a team of Black clinicians and other psychological health staff to offer fast access to mental health outreach and engagement.

It likewise offers more than $116,000 towards a mental effort called ‘‘ Psychological First Aid Train-the-Trainer,' which will train locals to help others handle feelings following a tragic event.

" As members of the East Buffalo neighborhood continue to recover from the Tops Market Shooting, we stay dedicated to taking on systemic difficulties to help recover and develop back more powerful," Governor Hochul said. "Many of these people continue to handle the stress, fear, anger and sensations of hopelessness brought on by this catastrophe. The programs moneyed by these awards will assist this community heal and recover from the stress and shock they continue to experience from this horrific shooting."

" The terrible, hateful mass shooting at the Tops Market will never ever be forgotten on East Buffalo, and we need to supply the resources needed for recovery," Sen. Chuck Schumer (D) said. "Buffalo is the City of Good Neighbors and nowhere is that truer than on the East Side. I will continue to fight to provide the federal resources require to help neighbors assist each other and take care of each other as we lay the structure for a much better tomorrow."

Funding for the awards was provided through a $2.35 million emergency grant reaction from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to assist East Buffalo residents.

NYS invests $2.5 million for citizens affected by Tops Mass Shooting

Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here.