Title
Recommendation to Authorize the Interim City Manager to Execute an Agreement with Urban Alchemy in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $1,600,000 to Operate the Day Center and Safe Parking Program for the term February 15, 2026 through February 28, 2027, with the Option of Four One-Year Extensions, for a Total Five Year Amount Not-to Exceed $8,000,000.
This project is statutorily exempt from further environmental review pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080.10 (services for people experiencing homelessness), and categorically exempt from further environmental review pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) and 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense). (City Manager 10021833)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Adam W. Politzer, Interim City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Urban Alchemy was selected through a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process to operate the existing Day Center and Safe Parking program to provide emergency overnight shelter and supportive services. This proposed agreement would ensure the continued operation of critical emergency shelter for individuals experiencing homelessness in Alameda.
Staff recommends approval of a five-year agreement with Urban Alchemy in an annual amount not to exceed $1,600,000 and a five year not-to-exceed amount of $8,000,000 to operate the Day Center and Safe Parking Program. The Urban Alchemy agreement will support service continuity, program stability, and effective delivery of homelessness response services while maintaining administrative efficiency.
BACKGROUND
On October 5, 2021, City Council approved The Road Home: A Five-Year Plan to Prevent and Respond to Homelessness in Alameda (“The Road Home”), establishing homelessness as a City of Alameda (City) priority and outlining a comprehensive strategy to prevent and respond to homelessness in Alameda. The Road Home reflects City Council’s recognition of the need for a coordinated, compassionate, and effective local response to homelessness.
The Day Center and Safe Parking Program serves some of the most vulnerable populations in Alameda bringing people off the street and indoors to support their basic needs. This program is vital to the continuum of homeless services in Alameda. The current location serves up to 18 individuals indoors and 25 individuals in safe parking with access to services and restrooms as well as mobile showers and laundry one time per week. Services include emergency low-barrier overnight shelter, secure overnight parking, and indoor day center services with case management, therapeutic and life skills support. The Day Center and Safe Parking is being relocated to Building 2, Wing 3 at Alameda Point and will open in Fall 2026, providing additional meeting space, overnight beds, safe parking spaces and shower/laundry facilities onsite.
In Fall 2025, the Housing and Human Services Division (HHS) conducted a comprehensive Request for Proposals (RFP) process to identify service providers for both the Emergency Supportive Housing (ESH) program and the Day Center/Safe Parking program. Written proposals were reviewed by City staff and staff from partner agencies, including the Cities of Hayward, Berkeley, and Oakland. The three highest-rated organizations were Village of Love, Urban Alchemy, and Restorative Pathways.
In November 2025, City staff, along with representatives from Alameda Family Services, the Building Futures Mid-County Housing Resource Center, and the Everyone Home Continuum of Care, conducted interviews with the three top-ranked organizations.
DISCUSSION
The Day Center and Safe Parking program serves as a critical first-step, low-barrier access point for people experiencing homelessness in Alameda by providing basic needs and supportive services. Based on the results of the RFP process, staff and evaluators determined that Urban Alchemy would best meet the City’s service delivery goals. Urban Alchemy provides services for people who are unhoused across California and has grown into a statewide leader in providing effective, low-barrier, first-step homeless services.
The City Manager’s Office, Housing and Human Services Division recommends Urban Alchemy to operate the Day Center and Safe Parking program, which will support continuity of services while strengthening the City’s homelessness response system.
ALTERNATIVES
• Authorize the Interim City Manager to execute an agreement with Urban Alchemy to provide shelter and services at the City’s Day Center and Safe Parking program.
• Not authorize the new agreement. The Day Center and Safe Parking program would then be without a provider since the existing agreement is expiring. This would provide a gap in services for this critical service.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This agreement extension does not require an additional allocation of funds because sufficient funding is available in the existing allocated budget. These programs are funded through a one-time American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation approved by City Council on November 16, 2021 and budgeted general funds. The federal government requires that all ARPA funds be fully expended by December 31, 2026. Therefore, ARPA funds will be distributed among both shelters and expended first.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action is consistent with the Social Services Human Relations Board Charter and Ordinance authority “to improve social services in the community” (Alameda Municipal Code § 2-11.5) and the Report on Homelessness Policies and Programs.
This action is consistent with Goal 2 of “The Road Home: A Five-Year Strategic Plan to Prevent and Respond to Homelessness in Alameda.”
This program supports the City Strategic Plan Priority to House all Alamedans and End Homelessness, specifically Project HH2b to Implement the Homelessness Strategic Plan including providing the Emergency Supportive Housing.
This action is subject to the Levine Act.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action does not constitute a “project” as defined in California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378 and therefore no further CEQA analysis is required.
On a separate and independent basis, this project is statutorily exempt from further environmental review pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080.10 (services for people experiencing homelessness), and categorically exempt from further environmental review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) and 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense).
CLIMATE IMPACT
The Social Vulnerability Assessment section of the Climate Action and Resiliency Plan states: “adaptation strategies should consider how [the homeless] will receive emergency communications and how they will be sheltered. Proper, safe housing for all is an adaptation and resilience strategy. Planning strategies should always consider these vulnerable populations in adaptation efforts.”
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the Interim City Manager to execute an agreement with Urban Alchemy in an amount not-to-exceed $1,600,000 to operate the Day Center and Safe Parking Program for the term February 15, 2026 through February 28, 2027, with the option of four one-year extensions, for a total five year amount not-to exceed $8,000,000. This project is statutorily exempt from further environmental review pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080.10 (services for people experiencing homelessness), and categorically exempt from further environmental review pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) and 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense).
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Wooldridge, Assistant City Manager
By,
C’Mone Falls, Housing and Human Services Manager
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Ross McCarthy, Finance Director
Exhibit:
1. Agreement - Urban Alchemy