After a worker sprayed water near a homeless person on Skid Row, Los Angeles City Comptroller Kenneth Mejia announced he is launching an investigation into the worker's employer, Urban Alchemy.
A video shows the worker hosing down a sidewalk a few feet from a homeless person who was on his knees struggling to pick up his belongings from the ground. Urban Alchemy, which has received millions of dollars in city contracts, said it fired the worker after the incident at a “weather station,” where Skid Row residents can receive services and relief from harsh winter and summer weather.
On Jan. 18, Mejia shared a still image from the video on X, formerly known as Twitter, and said his office will investigate the San Francisco-based nonprofit's contracts with the city and the circumstances that led to what happened. which he called a “disturbing incident.” ” incident.
“The City Charter puts the Comptroller in charge of ensuring that tax dollars are spent well. That includes the responsibility of the City's contractors,” Mejía wrote. “More homeless people die in Los Angeles than in New York from hypothermia. “Acts of cruelty like the one in the video can endanger lives in winter.”
Sergio Pérez, director of accountability and supervision of the comptroller, said that the investigation does not amount to an audit, but aims to guarantee that urban alchemywhich has received about $14 million from the city since 2021 to provide homeless services, including street cleaning and operating shelters, is meeting its contractual obligations.
“We are experiencing increasingly severe winter events here in Los Angeles, and our unhoused neighbors are among the most vulnerable… and that is one of the things that [caught] our attention… and that is watching someone in the dark and cold hours be threatened with water like that,” Pérez said.
In an email to city leaders, stakeholders and Skid Row residents, Urban Alchemy CEO Lena Miller said the worker's “egregious and outrageous act” did not reflect the values and training of the organization, which employs many people who were once incarcerated or homeless.
“The individual involved was fired immediately,” he wrote in his email. “We are also conducting further research to determine if other [workers] “Those who were at the scene were complicit or passive in stopping this incident, and additional disciplinary action will be taken for those individuals if we find any negligence.”
Urban Alchemy officials said the worker was hosing down the sidewalk to clean up feces left by the homeless person in the video, who was later placed in transitional housing.
The nonprofit's growth over the years has sparked criticism about the training and conduct of its outreach workers, known as ambassadors or professionals. Some have been accused in lawsuits of abusive behavior, while some homeless advocates have portrayed Urban Alchemy as a substitute for police in clearing unpopular encampments.
In 2021, the non-profit organization worked together with outreach workers from other agencies to urge people at large Camp at Echo Park accept accommodation offers.
Still, some city leaders say Urban Alchemy plays a crucial role in responding to emergencies like overdoses and mental health crises. They say their workers also help ease the burden on police officers.
Earlier this month, a Stanford University study found that crime and drug use had decreased significantly in areas where Urban Alchemy ambassadors were stationed.
Forrest Stuart, a Stanford sociology professor and an author of the study, said the study, which is being peer-reviewed, found that crime fell by 52% over a 12-month period, while drug use fell by 80%.
Stuart said using the same ambassadors in the same places helped build trust among homeless people.
“They do all kinds of things for neighborhoods, but they also get people to do things like de-escalate, clean up an area, or get someone off the street,” he said.
Miller said Urban Alchemy will survey the community about their opinions on the services it provides. He said workers will receive a refresher course so they clearly understand Urban Alchemy's standards.
The weather stations “have emerged as a place of safety, support and community,” Miller said. “We intend to restore and maintain that reputation.”
