Los Angeles Launches Pilot With Urban Alchemy To Divert Non-Violent Homeless-Related 911 Calls

The City of Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of City Homelessness Initiatives is launching a pilot program with Urban Alchemy to divert non-emergency calls to 911 about non-violent homeless individuals from a law enforcement response to mobile crisis response and intervention by a behavioral health team from Urban Alchemy. The pilot is called “Crisis and Incident Response through Community-Led Engagement” (CIRCLE). It is taking place in Hollywood and Venice.

CIRCLE calls will come to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) 911 system or the police non-emergency number. LAPD dispatchers will be trained to recognize non-violent . . .