BIRMINGHAM, Ala ( WIAT ) — The City of Birmingham has announced a partnership with the organization Urban Alchemy to kick start the Homeless Engagement Assistance Response Team (HEART) Birmingham, a program meant to serve unhoused people in crisis.
The city has invested $1.7 million in this community based public safety program.
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Kirkpatrick Tyler with Urban Alchemy said HEART intends to provide a safe space for homeless individuals and those in mental crisis.
Instead of police officers responding to non-emergency crisis calls involving homeless individuals or people in a mental crisis, a specialized team will respond, help deescalate and provide resources to help them.
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“Nobody wants to feel like we’re in trouble when we’re going through crisis,” said Tyler.
Tyler said the teams are made up of community members who have shared similar experiences or are formerly incarcerated.