On Monday, The Oasis reopened as the SOW Community Resource Hub on East Seventh Street, near the ARCH.
AUSTIN, Texas — A familiar spot for unhoused Austinites to get help is back open, but with a new name and a private partner funding the operation.
On Monday, The Oasis reopened as the SOW Community Resource Hub on East Seventh Street, near the ARCH.
The center closed last fall after the city cut ties with the nonprofit that managed it, Urban Alchemy, because of allegations of mismanagement. But Austin’s Homeless Strategy Officer David Gray said a generous donation from the SOW Family Foundation allowed it to reopen.
“They can sit down and relax,” said Gray. “They can get a little light meal, and they can get connected with services that are going to be so vital to help them get off the street and ultimately into housing … If we can use this as a platform to build faith and trust and hope, then we can get those people into shelter and ultimately into the housing that they need to stabilize their lives and achieve self-sufficiency.”
Gray said now is the right time to reopen the space.
“I am so happy that we’re able to get this open,” he said at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday. “Last night we were getting flood advisories, but it’s not lost on me that the rain stopped just as it was time for us to cut the ribbon. This is exactly what this space was intended for.”
The hub offers daily case management, light meals and housing navigation right between two downtown shelters. On special days, residents can also access health screenings and job resources.
City officials said by bringing services together in one location, the hub strengthens coordination among providers and improves access to resources for Austin residents experiencing homelessness.