VIEW THE VISION

Investing in the wellness of people and places to create safety families can feel.

Shelby County is facing crises that feel separate - crime, poor health, low literacy, unstable neighborhoods - but they grow from the same root. Stable housing reduces future public cost, decreases youth contact with the justice system, and increases workforce participation. It is one of the most efficient long-term public health investments a government can make. When people have access to care, safe spaces, and real opportunity, violence drops and hope rises.

Commitment:

Public safety is a shared responsibility, public health is a lifeline, and healthy people build strong communities. We will expand health and safety from downtown institutions across Arlington, to Frayser and beyond, so your zip code no longer predicts lifespan, opportunity, or safety. This includes addressing the disproportionate impact of chronic disease, maternal health challenges, and mental health stress on Black women, who are often the caregivers holding families together while navigating systems that were not designed for them.

Priorities:

• Safe Places & Spaces

• Expanded Healthcare Access

• Housing Affordability & Stability (“Happy Homes”)

1.  Safe Places & Spaces: Justice System

• Establish a collaborative partnership with the Sheriff 

• Schedule Safe Shelby 365 cross-agency huddles (Health Department, Memphis Police, Sheriff’s Department, Neighborhood Associations, etc.)

• Address current jail conditions while conducting a full facility & population audit; publish results, and size future construction based on real need.

• Expand diversion programs, strengthen mental-health resources, and speed up case processing to prevent long stays for non-violent individuals.

Safe Places & Community Center Elevation

We turn community centers into real hubs of learning, health, jobs, and support. Inside each center, we will expand cross-agency resources:

• Adult literacy, GED classes, and youth arts 

• ESL Classes for Multilingual Families

• Legal Aid Access for Eviction Prevention and Renter Protection

• Mental Health Counselors and Mobile Eye Exams for Students

• Community-based safety expansion (Memphis Allies, etc.)

2.  Expanded Healthcare Access

Take healthcare to where people live. These investments prioritize working mothers, caregivers, and women managing family health needs while balancing work, childcare, and transportation barriers.

• Health at Home Initiative (blood pressure, diabetes)

• School-based and community-center health clinics

• Mobile care units aligned with MATA bus routes

Public Health Innovation Zones: use data to direct resources to the areas most affected by chronic disease, food deserts, and violence

Potential Funding Sources: Federal grants, hospital partnership dollars, and targeted county reallocations from savings in detention, overtime costs, and inefficient contract spending.

Read more in the Public Health and Safety Policy Memo here.