Birmingham is moving forward with a new daytime resource center designed to provide support and essential services for people experiencing homelessness.
Birmingham Oasis to Open in Smithfield
The Birmingham City Council has approved agreements to establish Birmingham Oasis, a daytime respite center in the Smithfield neighborhood. The facility will be located at 600 3rd Avenue North and is expected to open in late September 2026.
Urban Alchemy will operate the center under an initial 12-month, $600,000 agreement funded through the city’s Opioid Abatement Program. In addition, the city approved a three-year ground lease for the 0.21-acre property.
The center plans to welcome guests Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Services Designed to Meet Daily Needs
Birmingham Oasis, short for Open Accessible Safe Inviting Spaces, will provide a safe place for unhoused residents during the day when many overnight shelters are closed.
Visitors will have access to housing navigation, case management, and care coordination. The center will also offer referrals for mental health and substance use treatment, peer support, life skills coaching, and help obtaining identification documents and other vital records.
In addition, guests can connect with employment resources while accessing meals, drinking water, restrooms, and personal storage lockers. The facility will also provide Narcan, shaded seating, heated spaces during colder weather, and a fenced dog park for visitors with pets.
Safety and Community Support
City leaders say safety will remain a priority at Birmingham Oasis. The site will include 24-hour surveillance cameras, emergency blue-light phones, and staff trained in trauma-informed care.
Meanwhile, Urban Alchemy will work alongside the Birmingham Police Department’s HOPE Unit to support community engagement and connect visitors with available services.
Officials say the new center will help fill an important gap in Birmingham’s homelessness support network by offering daytime assistance, resources, and a welcoming environment for those in need.
Sign up for the Homely Birmingham newsletter to stay up to date on Birmingham.
