Reviewed by: Pat Byington
Birmingham approves new daytime resource hub for unhoused community
Reading time: 2 minutes
The Birmingham City Council has approved agreements to establish Birmingham Oasis, a dedicated daytime respite center for unhoused residents located in the Smithfield neighborhood.
Key details about Birmingham Oasis
- Location: 600 3rd Avenue North
- Target opening: Late September 2026
- Hours: Monday through Friday, 7AM to 7PM
- Operator: Urban Alchemy
- Managed via a $600,000 initial 12-month agreement funded through the City’s Opioid Abatement Program
- Lease agreement: 3-year ground lease totaling $50,000 for the 0.21-acre property
Services + amenities at Birmingham Oasis
Birmingham Oasis — shorthand for “Open Accessible Safe Inviting Spaces” — fills a gap in local support services by providing a dedicated environment during daytime hours when overnight shelters are traditionally closed.
The site will provide:
- Housing navigation, care coordination + case management
- Mental health + substance use treatment referrals
- Peer support + life skills coaching
- Assistance securing vital records + state identification
- Connections to employment opportunities
- Meal distribution, drinking water, public restrooms + personal storage lockers
- Naloxone (Narcan) access
- Shaded outdoor seating, heated areas for cold weather + an enclosed dog park for guests with pets
The facility will incorporate 24-hour surveillance, emergency blue-light phones and trauma-informed staff.
Safety and community engagement on site will be managed through a partnership between Urban Alchemy practitioners and the Birmingham Police Department’s HOPE (Homeless Outreach, Prevention and Engagement) Unit.
