According to police data analyzed by a Stanford University researcher, crime was 20% lower at intersections in the city where the local nonprofit was deployed.
"Frankly, we're not surprised at all," said Jess Montejano.
Montejano is an Urban Alchemy spokesperson who says the group's success is because of its street ambassadors.
The ambassadors are a group of people, most of whom were formerly incarcerated or addicts themselves, who go into some of San Francisco's toughest neighborhoods to help those most in need.
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"They know how to best connect with people in crisis. They show them extra love. They show them attention. They build real relationships," Montejano said.
While Urban Alchemy has faced controversies in the past, it's also won its share of supporters.
"The only complaints I ever hear about Urban Alchemy is that we don't have them," said Supervisor Matt Dorsey.
Dorsey believes the nonprofit has an important role to play in cleaning up the city's streets. He has supported the city providing millions of dollars in funding to the group.
Both the supervisor and Urban Alchemy itself say they want to see the program expanded into the future. They believe this study will help enable them to do just that.
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"This will help us at budget time. Now we have something to point to where we can say, 'Hey, this is actually making a difference,'" Dorsey said.
It's a difference Montejano hopes the group can continue making.
"It's honestly one of the proudest things of my life to be able to see the work and impact that they get to accomplish every single day," he said.
In addition to San Francisco, Urban Alchemy also operates in eight other cities around the U.S.