Portland City Councilors Avalos and Kanal Request Greater Insight into Urban Alchemy Contract Oversight

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Portland, OR -Councilor Candace Avalos (District 1), Chair of the Housing & Permitting Committee, and Councilor Sameer Kanal (District 2), Chair of the Committee of the Whole, issued a joint memorandum to City administration leadership requesting additional information to better understand how shelter oversight systems are working at the City. This is in response to a recent investigation finding that, from July 2023 through December 2025, the ombudsman received a total of 85 complaints about Urban Alchemy staff - including allegations of sexual violence, drug dealing, drug use, theft, and retaliation.

"As Chairs of the Housing & Permitting Committee and the Committee of the Whole, respectively, we believe it is important that Council also understand how these systems are functioning in practice, including implementation, outcomes, accountability measures, and any operational or policy changes made in response to concerns raised," the Councilors wrote. "This information is particularly important as Council prepares for upcoming budget discussions related to Portland Solutions, shelter operations, and broader homelessness response investments."

"Urban Alchemy has a reputation for lack of transparency and a flawed prison-like approach to managing shelters in a number of cities over the last several years," said Councilor Mitch Green (District 4). "Direct service providers in Portland have raised these concerns repeatedly, warning that the same dynamics would play out here. It's now clear that these concerns were warranted. I'm grateful for the efforts of Chairs Kanal and Avalos for their swift response to this issue. We need oversight, and we need it quickly. I don't see how we can approve a budget that continues this massive contract without getting answers first."

Councilors Avalos and Kanal asked that the administration provide a written response with the requested information to Council offices by close of business on Monday, May 11th, so Council can effectively review current operations, oversight structures, and future policy considerations.

The joint memo can be read here. The full memo text is copied below:

Dear City Administrator Lee,

We are writing to request additional information regarding the City's oversight of Urban Alchemy contracts and the administration's response to concerns raised publicly regarding shelter operations and conduct associated with Urban Alchemy-managed sites.

We appreciate the overview recently provided by Portland Solutions regarding existing oversight practices, grievance procedures, and coordination with the Ombudsman's Office. As Chairs of the Housing & Permitting Committee and the Committee of the Whole, respectively, we believe it is important that Council also understand how these systems are functioning in practice, including implementation, outcomes, accountability measures, and any operational or policy changes made in response to concerns raised.

This information is particularly important as Council prepares for upcoming budget discussions related to Portland Solutions, shelter operations, and broader homelessness response investments.

To assist Council in understanding the current state of affairs, we respectfully request a concise written briefing addressing the following:

1. A summary of complaints, grievances, and appeals associated with Urban Alchemy-managed sites over the past 12 months, including:
   1. Number of complaints received;
   2. General categories of complaints;
   3. Number substantiated, unresolved, or dismissed;
   4. Any identifiable trends or recurring operational concerns.
2. Information regarding investigative and corrective processes, including:
   1. Which bureau(s) or staff are responsible for investigations and oversight;
   2. Average timelines for response and resolution;
   3. Whether complaints resulted in corrective actions, disciplinary actions, or contract compliance findings;
   4. Whether any concerns resulted in policy, operational, staffing, training, or procedural changes.
3. Any metrics, evaluations, audits, internal assessments, or performance measures used by the City to determine whether current oversight and grievance systems are functioning effectively.
4. A summary of the City's current process for ongoing monitoring and accountability for Urban Alchemy contracts, including:
   1. Performance monitoring;
   2. Incident reporting;
   3. Escalation procedures;
   4. Coordination with Multnomah County and shelter operators.
5. Information regarding any planned reviews, evaluations, contract modifications, or operational changes currently underway related to Urban Alchemy-managed sites or shelter operations more broadly.

Given the timing of upcoming budget deliberations and ongoing public discussion surrounding shelter operations, we would appreciate receiving this information by close of business on Monday May 11th, so Council can appropriately evaluate current operations, oversight structures, and future policy considerations.

Thank you for your attention to this request. We appreciate the work of City staff navigating a complex shelter system and look forward to continued collaboration as Council evaluates how best to support safe, accountable, and effective shelter operations citywide.