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CC - CONSENT ITEM: Approval of Amendment to Existing Professional Services Agreement with Urban Alchemy in an Amount Not-to Exceed $4,217,139 for the Period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 for: (1) Continuation as the Lead Operator and Service Provider for Wellness Village (Safe Sleep); and (2) Expansion of the Provision of Supportive Service and Care as a Part of the Motel Master Leasing and Nutrition Program.
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Meeting Date: June 23, 2025
Contact Person/Dept.: Tevis Barnes/Housing and Human Services
Christina Stoffers/Housing and Human Services
Phone Number: (310) 253-5780
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [X] No []
Attachments: Yes [] No [X]
Public Notification: Advisory Committee on Housing and Homelessness (06/19/2025); Urban Alchemy (05/28/2025); and (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (06/19/2025)
Department Approval: Tevis Barnes, Housing and Human Services Director (06/02/2025)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve an amendment to the existing professional services agreement with Urban Alchemy in an amount not-to-exceed $4,217,139 for the period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 for (1) the continuation as the lead operator and service provider for Wellness Village (Safe Sleep); and (2) expanded provision of supportive service and care as a part of the Motel Master Leasing and Nutrition Program.
BACKGROUND
Witnessing the exponential growth of homelessness in the Los Angeles County region and its direct impact locally, the City Council adopted a resolution ratifying the Proclamation of Local Emergency on Homelessness on January 9, 2023.
To address homelessness in an impactful way, Culver City strives to provide a localized Continuum of Care (CoC) approach that leads with supportive service and care for the City’s unhoused neighbors. The local CoC consists of the following efforts enacted by the City Council:
• Homeless Outreach/Crisis Intervention-Mobile Crisis Team
• Project Homekey Interim Housing
• Project Homekey Permanent Supportive Housing
• Wellness Village/Safe Sleep Programming
• Motel Master Leasing and Nutrition Program
• Mobile Street Healthcare
DISCUSSION
Continuation of Wellness Village (Safe Sleep)
Culver City opened its first safe sleep program called Wellness Village at the City owned Virgina parking lot (10401 Virginia Ave.) in August 2023. Wellness Village programming is focused on helping the City’s most vulnerable unhoused neighbors, who are not yet ready to go indoors, by eliminating encampments, providing greater access to supportive services and housing, and reducing loss of life.
Wellness Village features 20 transitional tents, referred to as suites, with around-the-clock staffing and supportive services, including three meals a day, onsite restrooms and showers, garbage and recycling collection, access to laundry services, weekly healthcare and mental health clinics, and additional support and activities such as yoga, art therapy, and Alcohol and Narcotics Anonymous.
Wellness Village can support up to 40 guests (residents) at the site to allow couples as well as owners and their pets to remain together.
On March 27, 2023, the City Council approved the recommendation to enter into an agreement with Urban Alchemy as lead supportive service provider and operator of Wellness Village. Urban Alchemy is a nonprofit organization with the mission of healing communities challenged by the intersection of extreme poverty, homelessness, mental illness, and addiction through the act of respect, compassion, and love.
The name Urban Alchemy references the process of spiritual and social transformation that Urban Alchemy staff engages in - both internally and in practice with all members of the public. Founded in 2018, Urban Alchemy has grown into a thriving social enterprise with over 1,100 employees. Urban Alchemy provides a multitude of services for people experiencing homelessness, including community outreach and engagement, temporary housing, mobile bathrooms and showers, and street cleaning services. Urban Alchemy currently operates in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles County, Portland, Oregon and Austin, Texas.
Over 95% of Urban Alchemy employees (including those in executive leadership roles) have experienced homelessness and/or incarceration.
Since opening in August 2023, Wellness Village has served 82 people experiencing homelessness, with 50 Wellness Village guests transitioning to Project Homekey (PHK) Interim or Permanent and other housing resources including Veteran’s housing and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment facilities. Currently, 16 guests are enrolled at Wellness Village.
Motel Master Leasing and Nutrition Program - Care and Service
On August 28, 2023, the City Council approved the implementation of the Motel Master Leasing and Nutrition Program (Motel Program) as part of the City’s ongoing effort to create a CoC to address homelessness. Through the innovative Motel Program, Culver City partners with two local motels to provide 64 units of interim housing for the City’s unhoused community. The local motels offer temporary interim housing as unhoused neighbors transition to PHK, Wellness Village, or other interim or permanent housing options including treatment programs.
The Motel Program also provides 24/7 security as well as three daily meals. Motel Program participants have individual rooms that can house up to two persons to accommodate couples with private restrooms/showers and means to store and prepare food. Weekly maid service and fresh towels and linens are also provided through the Motel Program.
As part of this program, Urban Alchemy provides the following service and care at both the Paradise Inn and Suites and the Rodeway Inn:
• Program participant in-takes
• Coordination with the City’s Mobile Crisis Team
• 24-hour/7-day a week onsite service connection
• Assistance with securing other housing resources including treatment facilities, other interim and permanent housing including Project Homekey
• 24-hour/7-day a week onsite security through de-escalation and conflict resolution
• Monitoring of the motel perimeter
• Regular wellness checks and monitoring
• Regular community events and activities
• Distribution of meals and water
• Maintaining the motel exterior from trash and debris
Since the July 1, 2024, start of the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year, 39 unhoused persons were enrolled in the Program. Since the City started the Program in January 2023, 159 unhoused neighbors have participated in the Program with 46 transitioning to other housing resources including family reunification, long-term treatment facilities, skilled nursing facilities, Wellness Village, and PHK Interim or Permanent Supportive Housing.
Agreement with Urban Alchemy
On January 9, 2023, the City Council adopted a resolution ratifying the Proclamation of Local Emergency on Homelessness by the Director of Emergency Services of the City of Culver City, California, issued by the City Manager on January 3, 2023. To quickly set up new programs, the Housing and Human Services Department has conducted informal procurement of a variety of vendors to provide necessary services. The existing agreement with Urban Alchemy was previously approved by Council. Staff is seeking an amendment to Urban Alchemy’s agreement.
Staff recommends amending the Urban Alchemy agreement in the amount of $4,217,139. This reflects a reduction in the budget from Fiscal Year 2024-2025 by $215,497. The reduction is a result of the modification of the Urban Alchemy Leading Outreach with Valued Engagement (LOVE) Outreach Team from $799,173 to $300,000. The LOVE Team will be transitioned to provide supportive service and case management at the Rodeway Inn as part of the Motel Program. Urban Alchemy has already been providing services at the Paradise Inn and Suites during Fiscal Year 2024-2025.
The components of the proposed Urban Alchemy agreement amendments for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 include the following: continuation of Wellness Village at a cost of $3,093,192; and expanded supportive service and care as part of the Motel Program to include Rodeway Inn at a cost of $1,123,947.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
The Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 contains sufficient funding to cover the amount of $3,093,192 for the continuation of Urban Alchemy’s service at Wellness Village in Account No.10135700.619830 (HHS Wellness Village - Other Contractual Services Unhoused). The Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 also includes sufficient funding to cover the amount of $1,123,947 for the expanded supportive service and care component of the Motel Program in Account No. 10135100.619830 (HHS Housing Administration - Other Contractual Services Unhoused).
ATTACHMENT
None.
MOTIONS
That the Culver City Council:
1. Approve an amendment to the existing Professional Service Agreement with Urban Alchemy in an amount not-to-exceed $4,217,139 for the period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, for: the continuation as the lead operator and service provider for Wellness Village (Safe Sleep); and expanded supportive service and care as a provision of the Motel Master Leasing and Nutrition Program, and
2. Authorize the City Attorney to prepare/review the necessary documents; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute such documents on behalf of the City.