St. Louis Bullet Clinic Faces Uncertain Future as ARPA Funds Dry Up

Nonprofit running the free trauma care clinic scrambles to find new funding sources as pandemic-era grants expire.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 3:37pm

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The Bullet Related Injury Clinic (BRIC) in St. Louis, which provides free wound care, therapy, and holistic support to survivors of gun violence, is facing an uncertain future as the pandemic-era funding that helped establish the clinic is set to expire this summer. The nonprofit that runs the BRIC, Power4STL, relied heavily on American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocations and city contracts, but those short-term lifelines are about to end. Clinic leaders say they are already making staffing changes and program adjustments to brace for the funding drop-off, while racing to secure new donations, grants, and fundraisers to keep the vital services running.

Why it matters

The BRIC has been held up as a model for community-based violence intervention, providing critical care and support that traditional medical and criminal justice systems often fail to offer. Any lapse in the BRIC's services could have a devastating impact on shooting survivors in St. Louis who rely on the clinic's hands-on follow-up care. The funding challenges facing the BRIC also highlight the broader struggle nonprofits are having to sustain violence prevention programs as pandemic-era relief funds dry up.

The details

The BRIC provides free wound care, therapy, and holistic support to people recovering from gun violence. The clinic and its mobile teams have been praised as a innovative model that tries to fill gaps left by traditional systems. However, the nonprofit that runs the BRIC, Power4STL, is heavily reliant on ARPA allocations and city contracts that are set to expire this summer. Power4STL's executive director, Jamila Owens-Todd, says the organization is already making staffing changes and program adjustments to brace for the funding drop-off. To keep the BRIC afloat, organizers are doubling down on grassroots appeals, private foundations, and quick-hit fundraisers, including an online webathon scheduled for next week.

  • The ARPA funding that has supported the BRIC is set to expire this summer.
  • Power4STL received an ARPA allocation of about $1.18 million for community violence intervention.
  • The City of St. Louis must spend its $498 million in ARPA funds by the end of 2026, leading to discussions about repurposing some of that money for other priorities.

The players

Power4STL

The nonprofit organization that runs the Bullet Related Injury Clinic (BRIC) and The T in St. Louis. Power4STL relies heavily on ARPA allocations and city contracts, which are set to expire this summer.

Jamila Owens-Todd

The executive director of Power4STL, the nonprofit that runs the BRIC. Owens-Todd has warned that the ARPA funding sources will end this summer, forcing the organization to retool staffing and plans.

Keisha Blanchard

A former patient at the BRIC who now works as a peer advocate, highlighting the clinic's immediate and practical services for people trying to heal from gun violence.

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What they’re saying

“Those funding sources will end this summer”

— Jamila Owens-Todd, Executive Director, Power4STL

“Exploring a myriad of options”

— Jamila Owens-Todd, Executive Director, Power4STL

“Returning to the BRIC for bullet removal and follow-up visits, a reminder of how immediate and practical the clinic's services are for people trying to heal.”

— Keisha Blanchard, Peer Advocate

What’s next

Power4STL is urging residents to consider one-time donations or recurring support through the BRIC's website to help keep the clinic's services running. The organization is also exploring a range of other funding options, including family foundations and government procurement opportunities, in an effort to avoid cutting services.

The takeaway

The funding challenges facing the BRIC highlight the broader struggle nonprofits are having to sustain critical violence prevention programs as pandemic-era relief funds dry up. The clinic's uncertain future raises concerns about the potential impact on shooting survivors in St. Louis who rely on its hands-on follow-up care, underscoring the need for more stable, long-term funding solutions for community-based violence intervention efforts.