City of Birmingham  Expands  Homelessness  Strategy with Approval of Birmingham Oasis 

Special to The Times

Birmingham Mayor Randall L.  Woodfin recommended, and the Birmingham City Council approved on Tuesday, agreements to establish  a dedicated daytime respite center for individuals experiencing homelessness.

Birmingham Oasis (Open Accessible Safe Inviting Spaces) will connect unhoused residents with housing, healthcare, treatment, and other critical services.

The Council approved a three-year ground lease agreement for approximately 0.21 acres at  600 3rd Avenue North to establish Birmingham Oasis. The lease totals  $50,000  over three years. The Council also approved a  $600,000  agreement with Urban Alchemy to  operate  the site through the City’s Opioid Abatement Program for an initial 12-month term.  Urban Alchemy was selected through an RFP process.

Expected to open in late September, Birmingham Oasis is the latest investment in the city’s broader effort to address homelessness through compassionate, evidence-based solutions that improve outcomes for individuals while enhancing the quality of life in Birmingham’s neighborhoods and public spaces.

“Homelessness cannot be solved with a single program or by simply asking people to move from one place to another,” said Mayor Woodfin. “Our strategy is to meet  people where they are, connect them to the services they need, and help them transition into stable housing. Birmingham Oasis builds on the work  we’ve  already begun by creating a place where outreach, healthcare, recovery, and housing services come together under one coordinated approach.”

Birmingham Oasis fills an important gap in that continuum of care by providing a safe place for individuals to spend the day when overnight shelters are typically closed while  remaining  connected to the resources needed to exit homelessness permanently.

The center will  operate  approximately  12  to 14 hours each day, with core service hours Monday through Friday from  7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Services and amenities will include:

• Housing navigation and case management
• Mental health and substance use treatment referrals
• Peer support and recovery services
• Life skills coaching
• Assistance  obtaining identification and vital records
• Employment connections
• Care coordination
• Meal services and charitable food distribution
• Drinking water, hydration, and snacks
• Public restrooms
• Personal lockers and storage
• Naloxone (Narcan) access
• A dog park for guests with pets
• Designated smoking area
• Shaded gathering spaces and heated areas during colder weather

The site will also feature 24-hour surveillance, an emergency blue-light phone, and on-site trauma-informed personnel. The Birmingham Police Department’s HOPE Unit will partner with Urban Alchemy practitioners to ensure safety while emphasizing outreach and service connections over enforcement.