Bull City United started in Durham in 2016.
The group includes former gang members. The idea is that they can connect with people engaged in violence and show them a better way.
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Robert Belcher worked for the group from 2019 to 2021. He said despite getting millions of dollars from the city and county - it is ineffective.
"The murder rate has gone up. The shooting rates have gone up," said Belcher. "I don’t understand why they would put more money into something, to watch more people die."
Belcher argued the county should not spend six million dollars on a new building for the group when they have two already -- and no one is ever there.
In the middle of the day, WRAL News visited both and no one answered.
WRAL News asked the county for statistics demonstrating the group's success.
They sent data from last year and early this year, which do not tell a clear narrative.
Violent incidents were up in some parts of the city, down in others.
A Durham police officer told WRAL News from what they've seen, the group isn't making an impact in Durham
The officer believes purchasing the new headquarters would be a waste of taxpayer dollars.
"It’s a slap in the face to their constituents," said the officer. "The six million dollars could be better used for something like a youth center."
The Durham County Board of Commissioners approved the new headquarters unanimously in their Monday night meeting.
WRAL News has reached out to every single county commissioner, none would do an interview.
We also reached out to the county directly and to members of Bull City United to try to hear their perspectives. We have not gotten a response.