The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday approved a $74,950 bid to construct a fence for the planned Oasis Park, which will be a daytime outreach center for people experiencing homelessness.
The bid came from Sherrod Construction Co. of Birmingham, and the work will be done on the 0.21-acre site at 600 3rd Ave North downtown.
City leaders plan for Oasis Park to be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and include pavilions, restrooms, showers, laundry, protection from inclement weather, a dog park and access to drinking water.
Councilor Darrell O’Quinn, whose district will include the park, said research shows that it takes up to 20 points of contact for people experiencing homelessness to accept resources or help.
“I believe this project will help build that trust. Beyond that, it gives people a place to take a shower, use the bathroom and do their laundry,” he was quoted in a news release as saying. “Unless you’ve experienced that, it’s hard to quantify the positive impact those resources can have on a person’s life. This is a long-term investment; it’s not a silver bullet. We’re going to be tracking metrics and gauging the impact so that we can have data on what’s working and what can improve.”
The council in July approved an $850,000 agreement under which the Oasis Park will be overseen by the California-based nonprofit Urban Alchemy. The agreement includes $50,000 for a ground lease, $600,000 for operating costs and $200,000 in capital investment. The majority of this funding is provided through national opioid settlement money.
Urban Alchemy also operates the Homeless Engagement Assistance Response Team, or Heart, under a $1.7 million contract with the city. Workers with this project answer calls from the community for issues such as loitering, mental health crises and public disturbances. They provide assistance by connecting residents in crisis to resources and service providers. The council approved the bid Tuesday with no discussion. However, in the past, council members have raised concerns about the effectiveness of Urban Alchemy’s outreach considering the amount it is being paid as well as how city leaders will prevent drug use at the park once it opens.
