Committee advances $3.08M Urban Alchemy ambassador contract after questions about funding and downtown focus

Host representatives briefed the committee on a competitive procurement for street outreach, youth street outreach and community ambassador services on Nov. 18, 2025. The three contracts presented (DSOC/Colorado Coalition for the Homeless partnership, Urban Peak youth outreach, and a new Urban Alchemy community‑ambassador contract) are structured for three years from Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2028.

Host summarized the contract amounts and outcome measures: the Denver Street Outreach Collaborative (DSOC) partnership was presented with a multi‑year total listed in materials, Urban Peak’s youth outreach contract totals were shown, and staff said Urban Alchemy’s community ambassador contract totals $3,075,625 for the three‑year period. Host described required accountability measures including mandatory quarterly reporting, programmatic site visits and annual contract monitoring.

Councilmembers pressed Host on operational concerns: whether outreach responses rely on 311 and what backup exists when 311 is unavailable, how youth and families are triaged and placed into family shelters, and how targeted priority enforcement zones were selected. Multiple members argued the proposed priority enforcement map concentrates resources downtown and leaves border council districts and neighborhoods with less targeted coverage; Host said housing‑focused outreach can be deployed citywide beyond the targeted zones.

The most contested item was the Urban Alchemy ambassadors contract. Multiple members questioned whether homelessness‑resolution funds were an appropriate source for community‑ambassador work that includes hospitality and cleaning services and broader public‑facing duties. Host staff said the Urban Alchemy contract is funded with a combination of homelessness resolution funds and general fund. After debate, the committee moved (mover: Councilmember Amanda Sawyer; second: Councilmember Alvidrez) and conducted a roll‑call vote; the committee chair noted Host would review legal appropriateness of the fund source.

Supporters said the community‑ambassador role expands outreach capacity and provides visible, prosocial presence in priority enforcement zones and rest‑of‑city areas. Jeff Kositzky, Host deputy director, said the city’s vehicular homelessness pilot has seen "65 unique individuals" contacted with 44 resolved outcomes and eight vehicles surrendered, and warned the pilot’s funding ends at year‑end, requiring future budget consideration.

Next steps: the Urban Alchemy contract was advanced to the full council for approval; Host will follow up with the council legal office on fund‑source appropriateness and continue coordination about citywide deployment and metrics reporting.