The city will not renew its contract with Urban Alchemy to manage two key downtown homeless shelters following the discovery of improper data handling by the nonprofit’s staff. Urban Alchemy took over operations at ARCH after the city ended its long-standing contract with local nonprofit Front Steps. Advocates credited Urban Alchemy with reestablishing a sense of safety and order around the ARCH, a facility that had become a focal point in Austin’s homelessness response. Via mail, an Urban Alchemy spokesperson acknowledged that members of its staff misreported HMIS data without authorization but said the issue was self-identified through internal controls. “I am deeply disappointed by reports of possible misrepresentation of HMIS data at the ARCH and the Eighth Street Shelter,” he said.