CULVER CITY, Calif. — For Knurish Khosette, unzipping his tent at the Urban Alchemy Safe Sleep Village in Culver City is a cherished routine, one that feels more like home than he’s ever known.
“I’ve never had to question whether my housing would just be ripped from me,” Khosette said while walking his new dog Zendaya around his new community.
Khosette’s challenging journey began at birth, born to parents who were drug addicts and oscillating between the streets and the foster care system. “The hardest part has been honestly feeling less than human,” he shared. His predicament worsened a few months ago when, while sleeping on a nearby park bench, he was told to leave and not return.
However, an outreach member from the Urban Alchemy project eventually encouraged Khosette to try their new model of care. This initiative transformed his life by offering a haven for the unhoused with minimal restrictions on drug use, curfews or pets.
“It’s not just like people are running around all willy-nilly with drugs and things like that, but it’s softer,” Khosette said.
The facility features rows of white canvas tents set up in an empty parking lot, costing less than a tiny home at roughly $44,000 each. These tents come equipped with communal kitchens, sinks, showers, charging stations and TVs, catering to those not ready to move indoors.
Carrie Bell, a recovering addict and former inmate, now serves as the director of the Culver City site. She highlighted the program’s success, noting, “We’ve helped about 1500 people across Los Angeles this year, with 36% finding permanent housing. I see people moving forward a lot faster.”
For Khosette, the Safe Sleep Village has been more than a shelter; it’s been a lifeline. With another baby on the way, he is working toward becoming a security guard and securing an apartment for his growing family.
“This place has given me a home that I never thought I would have. I’ve received a love that I never thought I would receive and that my family would receive,” he expressed.
If tackling homelessness requires a community effort, Khosette believes he has found his village at Urban Alchemy.