AmeriCorps Urban Safety Project (AmUS)

What AmeriCorps Urban Safety Project (AmUS) does

AmUS is a nonprofit community safety and public health program operated by Wayne State University's Center for Urban Studies, delivering services free of charge to residents across Detroit and Wayne County. AmeriCorps members are deployed directly into neighborhoods to improve guardianship, reduce victim susceptibility, and use technology for crime mapping and neighborhood communication on public safety matters. Core programs include the Urban Safety Program (home safety assessments, bike watch patrols, peace walks, safe routes to school, block clubs, board-ups of vacant properties, VIN etching), the Detroit Youth Service Corps (DYSC), Domestic Violence Advocacy, Water Filtration, the Healthy Older Adults Safety Program (HOAP), and the Detroit Lead Advocacy (DLEAD) program.

The portfolio is delivered through a coordinated community-led GTM motion rather than a unified technology platform: members conduct door-to-door outreach, organize community events, recruit landlords and tenants, and partner with community organizations including CDCs, schools, church groups, and the Detroit Police Department. Quantified outcomes include 2,500 home safety assessments citywide, 886 vacant homes boarded up, 115 vehicle VIN-etches, 590 water filters distributed, 300+ older adults engaged through HOAP, and 489+ families served through DLEAD. VIN-etched vehicles are reported to have a 65% lower theft rate and an 85% better recovery chance.

AmUS does not generate service revenue; all services are provided free of charge. Operating funding flows through AmeriCorps federal grants channeled via Wayne State University, supplemented by programmatic partnerships (FEMA, AAFA-MI, Ecology Center, Kohl's Injury Prevention Program, Clear Corps). AmeriCorps members receive a monthly living allowance, training, and an education award upon completion. Distribution occurs through self-serve online applications, community events, and the block-club network, with leadership comprising a Program Director (Ramona Washington), Program Manager (Lisa Carter), Program Coordinator (Iselda Esquivel), and research staff. The organization operates on an annual grant cycle, with the most recent AmeriCorps application period covering October 2024 through October 2025.

Name

AmeriCorps Urban Safety Project (AmUS)

Legal name

AmeriCorps Urban Safety Program

Website

https://amusdetroit.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AmUS is a nonprofit community safety program operated by Wayne State University's Center for Urban Studies, deploying AmeriCorps members to deliver free home safety, crime prevention, and public health services across Detroit and Wayne County neighborhoods.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Safety Services

NAICS

Security Guards and Patrol Services (561612), Fire Protection (92216)

SIC

Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Safety Administration (Fire/EMS, Emergency Management) (BPAIACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Health Emergency Preparedness & Incident Management (BPAIAJAG), Emergency Shelter, Camp Management & Non-Food Items (NFI) (BPAGAAAC)

Keywords

• Community safety programs
• Public health initiatives
• Crime prevention services
• Neighborhood revitalization
• Home safety assessments

Headquarters

HQ city

Detroit

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. AmeriCorps Federal Funding: The program is funded through AmeriCorps federal grants and operates as part of Wayne State University Center for Urban Studies. Member benefits include monthly living allowance, education award upon completion, training, and optional health coverage and child care for eligible full-time members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AmUS delivers free community safety and public health services to Detroit residents through AmeriCorps member-staffed programs. Its core offering centers on the Urban Safety Program umbrella—which includes Home Safety Assessments, Bike Watch patrols, Block Clubs, VIN Etching, Car Clubs, Safe Routes to School, and Board-ups/Clean-ups—augmented by standalone initiatives in youth engagement, domestic violence advocacy, water filtration, healthy older adults support, and lead poisoning prevention.

Product overview

AmeriCorps Urban Safety Project (AmUS) is a community safety and public health initiative operated by Wayne State University's Center for Urban Studies. Rather than a single unified technology product, AmUS operates as a coordinated suite of community service programs targeting crime reduction, environmental safety, and neighborhood revitalization in Detroit and Wayne County. The portfolio includes the Urban Safety Program (home safety assessments, community patrols, bike watch, safe routes), Domestic Violence Advocacy, Water Filtration Program, Healthy Older Adults Safety Program (HOAP), DLEAD Lead Safety advocacy, and the Youth Corps Program (DYSC). These programs work collaboratively to improve neighborhood guardianship, reduce victim susceptibility, and use technology for crime mapping—delivering services through AmeriCorps member deployment rather than a software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Urban Safety Program
• Healthy Older Adults Safety Program (HOAP)
• Domestic Violence Advocacy Program
• Water Filtration Program

Quantifiable outcome

• VIN-etched vehicles have 65% lower theft rate and 85% better recovery chance if stolen
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America - MI ChaptercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2021Partnership for the Healthy Older Adults Safety Program (HOAP). Joint initiative to reduce environmental hazards and provide respiratory health support to older adults in Detroit.
• FEMAminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Joint effort between AMUS, FEMA, Detroit Fire Department, Clear Corps, and Kohl's Injury Prevention Program through Children's Hospital of Michigan for the Home Safety Assessment program.
• Detroit Fire DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Partner in Home Safety Assessment program to identify and address fire hazards in Detroit homes.
• Clear CorpsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Partner in Home Safety Assessment program for lead poisoning prevention and healthy homes.
• Kohl's Injury Prevention Program - Children's Hospital of MichiganminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Partner in Home Safety Assessment program focused on children's injury prevention.
• Detroit Police Department (DPD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with DPD on community patrols, bike watch programs, anti-crime initiatives, and peace walks. AmeriCorps members work with police on neighborhood safety and the Green Light program to encourage businesses to become active crime prevention partners.
• Community Development Corporations (CDCs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with CDCs to recruit and engage landlords and tenants in neighborhood safety and revitalization projects, including community events and board-ups of abandoned properties.
• Schools and Church GroupscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork and build coalitions with schools and church groups for community safety events, safe routes to school initiatives, and neighborhood organizing.
• Ecology CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Lead Impacted Families Trainings (LIFT) program for families affected by lead poisoning in Michigan, including Grand Rapids, Flint, and Detroit.
• 3rd Circuit CourtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDomestic violence advocates assigned within precincts work with the court system for PPO enforcement and survivor support.
• First StepminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferral partner for domestic violence survivors providing shelter and support services.
• Open ArmsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferral partner for domestic violence survivors providing additional support services.
• H&R Process ServingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for PPO process serving assistance.
• Vacant Property Coalition of DetroitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity group advocating for Detroit residents dealing with vacant properties. AMUS refers residents to their resource directory and Vacant Property Toolbox guide.
• CLEARCorps/DetroitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for healthy homes programs, lead abatement grants, and environmental health resources for Detroit residents.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Focus: HOPE: Long-standing Detroit-based anti-poverty and community services nonprofit serving the same metro population with education, food, and workforce programming — directly comparable geographic and demographic reach to AmUS.
• Detroit Public Safety Foundation: Detroit-based nonprofit supporting public safety initiatives and community policing partnerships in the same geography as AmUS — comparable mission footprint with overlap in supporting DPD-adjacent community programming.
• LISC Detroit: Detroit office of Local Initiatives Support Corporation, channeling capital and capacity-building to community development corporations — the same CDCs that AmUS partners with for block clubs, board-ups, and neighborhood revitalization.

Direct peers

• Rebuilding Together: National nonprofit providing free home safety assessments, critical repairs, and accessibility modifications to low-income homeowners — directly comparable to AmUS's Home Safety Assessment program that installs locks, alarms, and detectors at no cost.
• Roca: Massachusetts-based nonprofit delivering violence intervention, workforce development, and reentry services to high-risk youth and adults — closely comparable to AmUS's combination of community safety and youth service corps programming.
• Urban Alliance: Washington, D.C.-based youth workforce development nonprofit serving opportunity youth with mentoring, internships, and job skills — closely comparable to AmUS's Detroit Youth Service Corps (DYSC) program for ages 17–24.
• Safe Streets: Baltimore community-based violence interruption program that deploys outreach workers in neighborhoods to mediate conflicts and reduce shootings — directly comparable in mission, methodology, and urban-community focus to AmUS.
• Cure Violence Global: National violence-prevention organization treating violence as a public-health issue using community-based interrupters; operates a similar neighborhood-level safety model that overlaps directly with AmUS's community guardianship focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AMUSproject
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgl-4H7LqvOLu2MZf9wyQaA
• Facebookfacebook.com/amusdetroit
• Instagraminstagram.com/amusproject
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/americorps-urban-safety-project-amus-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AmeriCorps Urban Safety Project (AmUS)