Urban Alchemy helps shape Atlanta's homelessness response
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For years, cities focused on clearing homeless encampments. Urban Alchemy aims to build trust inside them first.
Why it matters: The nonprofit, which has expanded to Atlanta, takes a different approach to homelessness by hiring formerly incarcerated and formerly homeless workers to build relationships with people who are unhoused and connect them with services.
Zoom in: Bayron Wilson, Urban Alchemy's co-founder and chief operating officer, told Axios the organization's approach starts by rejecting labels.
- The lived experience of the staff allows outreach workers to connect with people who often distrust government agencies, Wilson told Axios.
- "Every person experiencing homelessness or every issue does not require a weapon," he said.
- Urban Alchemy started in San Francisco and has expanded into cities including Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle and, more recently, Atlanta, reflecting growing demand from cities searching for alternatives to traditional outreach and policing.
- The organization says it works where "extreme poverty meets homelessness, mental illness and addiction."
The latest: Partners for HOME, the nonprofit that helps manage the city of Atlanta's strategy to address homelessness, has been working with Urban Alchemy for a little over a year to carry out its Downtown Rising campaign, said chief program officer Annie Hyrila.
- Downtown Rising, which aimed to house at least 400 people by the end of last year, ahead of the World Cup, is part of the nonprofit's larger Atlanta Rising initiative to raise $235 million to build 500 housing units.
- As of last month, Hyrila said Urban Alchemy helped house 490 unhoused people in the Downtown area.
What they're saying: Hyrila told Axios phase two of Atlanta Rising calls for housing 1,800 people.
- Team members will make direct contact with individuals they encounter, encouraging them to apply for housing on the spot.
- The second component includes adding more staff at shelters and allocating additional funding to help people exit the shelter in less than 30 days.
- Project HEAL (Homeless Empowerment through Accessible Living) will provide 24/7 medical and mental health services at permanent supportive housing facilities, Hyrila said.
The big picture: Homelessness has become one of the defining governance challenges for major American cities.
- Rising housing costs, untreated mental illness, substance use disorders and shortages of affordable housing have strained traditional responses centered on law enforcement, shelters and outreach workers.
What we're watching: How quickly the city of Atlanta can identify and develop additional rapid housing sites to meet the demand.