Durham group asking for more funding, increased access for HEART in light of in-custody deaths

A Durham group advocating for community-led safety is asking for more money from the city to help a newly-formed group in light of recent tragedies.

Durham Beyond Policing (DBP) is calling for City Council to allot more funding for Durham's unarmed first responders, known as HEART, the Holistic Empathetic Assistance Response Team. This press conference held Wednesday morning was inspired in part by the police killing of Tyre Nichols and the in-custody death of Darryl Williams in Raleigh.

HEART launched in June, sending counselors and clinicians to nonviolent 911 calls, and has thus far responded to more than 3,000 calls for things like trespassing and mental health crises. In January, HEART helped diffuse a tense situation when an armed man was taken into custody at a home in the McDougald Terrace community.

Right now, HEART only operates in part of the city, in limited hours. DBP wants to see it citywide, at all hours.

"When we talk about investments in life-affirming systems, this very program is what we're speaking to," said AJ Williams with DBP. "We see that as an alternative to policing as a sole source of protection and public safety for our residents."

HEART expansion already had strong support from Council prior to Wednesday. Most councilmembers do support providing HEART with more funding.

As far as whether it can go citywide, 24/7, Councilwoman Javiera Caballero said, while she wants that, it will likely not be possible right away due to staffing and funding.

"We want this program to be successful and so we want to be really thoughtful and intentional about how we roll it out," said Councilwoman Caballero.

Budget talks will begin in February to give HEART a clearer grasp of how much funding it will receive.