The Community-Based Safety Program calls for the presence of ambassadors throughout a contiguous area including parks, plazas, and other public spaces in the Mid-Market and Tenderloin from approximately 7am to 7pm.

The Mid-Market Foundation is proud to partner with Urban Alchemy in delivering this program. Urban Alchemy Practitioners engage with compassion and respect to support people in need, address safety issues, and cleanliness of the area. The program is funded by the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development (SFOEWD) and provides meaningful employment opportunity to 100s of people with extreme barriers.

We're thrilled to announce that the City has approved $20M in continued funding for this program in fiscal year 2025. This investment recognizes the program's significant impact on neighborhood vitality. While slightly reduced from last year, we're collaborating with partners at Urban Alchemy and others to maximize our resources and expand our reach.

In fiscal year 2024, we implemented several pilot changes to enhance our efficiency:

• Introduction of roving posts for increased flexibility

• Slightly shorter shifts to reduce coverage overlaps

• Evening deployments to support neighborhood vitality

We're building on these successful changes to do more with less while maintaining high-quality, consistent program delivery.

Additional developments include:

• Pilot cleaning and engagement programs along Polk and Larkin Street corridors

• Expanded deployments in Mint Plaza and Market and Van Ness areas

• Partnerships with Code Tenderloin to enhance substance use treatment options

Safety Program Services:

• Positive Engagements: Urban Alchemy practitioners shall consistently engage with guests/neighbors, residents, and businesses to build positive relationships and serve as a community connector by providing guests, residents, small businesses, and neighbors with resource information and service connections.

• Social Norm Interventions: Urban Alchemy practitioners shall invite guests, residents, small businesses, and neighbors to participate in creating a safe and inviting spaces for ALL. Urban Alchemy practitioners shall make a good faith effort to interrupt negative behavior in the Service Area including but not limited to public urination/defecation, littering, and general noise disturbances. Urban Alchemy staff shall contact the local authorities for activities that may endanger the UA staff and general public.

• De-Escalation Interventions: Urban Alchemy practitioners will assist with relational and other interventions to help contain mental health episodes, to reverse overdose events, to prevent or interrupt street violence, or to prevent crime so long as it does not endanger Urban Alchemy practitioners. Solutions may include referring to appropriate service personnel like EMTs, outreach workers for unhoused populations, or the police.