Birmingham has entered into a $1.7 million agreement with Urban Alchemy, a San Francisco-based nonprofit, to provide comprehensive support services for the city’s homeless population. The initiative aims to offer empathetic and effective assistance through a community-based approach, leveraging the lived experiences of its staff members. The program is set to launch in early 2025.
Key Takeaways
- Birmingham signs a $1.7 million deal with Urban Alchemy to aid homeless people.
- The initiative includes community engagement, homeless outreach, interim housing, and more.
- The program will launch in January 2025 and employ nearly 20 people.
- Urban Alchemy staff have lived experiences of incarceration, homelessness, and addiction.
The Agreement
Birmingham’s new $1.7 million contract with Urban Alchemy will fund a range of services aimed at addressing homelessness. These services include community engagement, homeless outreach, interim housing, hygiene services, street cleaning, and responses to non-emergency 911 calls related to homelessness, mental health, and addiction.
The Call Center
A key component of the initiative is the establishment of a call center, expected to open in January 2025. This center will be operated by individuals who have experienced incarceration, homelessness, or addiction, providing them with employment opportunities while offering empathetic support to those in need.
HEART Birmingham
The Homeless Engagement Assistance Response Team (HEART) is a community-based public safety program that will respond to non-emergency situations involving homeless individuals. Currently, such calls are handled by police, but the HEART team aims to de-escalate situations and connect people to necessary resources like shelter and medical care.
Urban Alchemy’s Track Record
Urban Alchemy operates similar programs in cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin. The nonprofit’s approach has been generally successful, although it has faced challenges and accusations, which it has consistently overcome. More than 90% of Urban Alchemy employees have experienced long-term incarceration, homelessness, mental illness, or drug addiction.
Future Prospects
Urban Alchemy is also a finalist for another city contract to operate a tiny home community for homeless people in Birmingham. The decision on this contract will be made later this year. Additionally, Urban Alchemy has secured a five-year, $50 million contract with Portland to manage its mass shelter sites.
For more information about HEART Birmingham, visit the city’s official website. More details about Urban Alchemy’s programs can be found on their official site.
