St. Anthony Foundation, Providence Foundation of San Francisco, and City of San Francisco Celebrate Partnership to Preserve Oasis Inn as a Family Shelter

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Sally Haims | Chief Marketing and Communications Officer
(415) 254-5884 | SHaims@stanthonysf.org

Collaboration will provide 59 units of temporary housing and wraparound services for women, children, and families to help break the intergenerational cycle of poverty for families

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., (October 25, 2023) – St. Anthony Foundation, in partnership with Mayor London Breed, San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing and Providence Foundation of San Francisco today marked the joint grand reopening of the Kaplan Family Oasis Shelter, a 59-unit shelter located in the Cathedral Hill neighborhood that has served as a temporary home for women, children, and families experiencing homelessness.

The motel which temporarily housed homeless women and children, including domestic violence survivors during the pandemic, was on the brink of shuttering when St. Anthony’s stepped up, agreeing to purchase the facility so families could stay sheltered and future families would have a safe place to land. A very generous gift from the Kaplan Family Trust was the cornerstone that launched the project. Providence will continue to operate the shelter and provide case management services, and St. Anthony’s will offer supplemental services to help families gain stability and self-sufficiency.

“This partnership to provide whole person care is a demonstration to show what’s possible when nonprofits work together with the city and partners to fill unmet needs. We’re committed to managing to results to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty for families and children,” said Nils Behnke, CEO, St. Anthony Foundation.

“Preserving special spaces like the Oasis is instrumental to build on our efforts to reduce unsheltered homelessness in the City,” said Mayor Breed. “We are proud to partner with St. Anthony Foundation and the Providence Foundation of San Francisco to continue to provide, not only a safe temporary home for these families, but also the services and resources they absolutely need.”

“Providence Foundation of San Francisco believes that true change begins with compassion and collaboration. Our partnership with St. Anthony Foundation is a testament to our unwavering commitment to addressing homelessness and improving the lives of our most vulnerable population. Together, we’ve built more than a shelter; we’ve created hope and opportunity for those in need. Providence Foundation is deeply grateful to St. Anthony’s, Mayor London Breed, our staff, and the Western Addition community for their steadfast support. We’re excited to continue our mission toward a more compassionate and equitable San Francisco,” said Patricia Doyle, Executive Director, Providence Foundation of San Francisco.

In San Francisco, an estimated 6,000 women experienced homelessness over the past year – nearly 40% of the total unhoused population. And 80% of unsheltered women surveyed across the country reported abuse and/or trauma as the cause of their homelessness.

“Women experience homelessness very differently than men,” said Juliana Terheyden, Director of Strategic Projects, St. Anthony Foundation.

Families staying at the Oasis Inn will have access to St. Anthony’s Women’s & Children’s Services including:

• Primary and specialty medical care at St. Anthony’s Medical Clinic including behavioral health and pediatric services
• Job training, job opportunities, and free computer literacy classes at St. Anthony’s Tech Lab
• Access to childcare through partnerships
• The Companionship Program, led by St. Anthony’s experienced medical team which provides a committed companion or peer advisor with lived experience to help women develop critical life management skills over multiple years
• High quality, like-new clothing from St. Anthony’s Free Clothing Program, the largest of its kind in San Francisco.

“When I took office, homeless families slept on mats on the floor of the basement of a church,” said Supervisor Dean Preston. “Early on in the pandemic, we privately fundraised to move families into their own private rooms at the Oasis Inn, initially on a temporary basis, and now, thanks to the work of activists and the generosity of the Kaplan family and St. Anthony Foundation, the Oasis has been acquired permanently for homeless women and families. Words cannot describe the joy I feel with this announcement,” said Supervisor Dean Preston.

“The Kaplan Family Oasis Shelter marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to address homelessness in San Francisco, and I applaud St. Anthony’s for their collaboration with the City to get this done. This project showcases our commitment to providing essential services and support to families experiencing homelessness in our community,” said Supervisor Catharine Stefani. “It brings me joy to witness the Oasis persisting as a source of optimism, empathy, and assistance for the women and families within our community,” said Supervisor Catherine Stefani.

The preservation of the Oasis Inn as a family shelter is the latest in a series of innovative initiatives by St. Anthony Foundation to address homelessness, including the Companionship Program, Welcome Center, and Golden Gate Greenway Project.

About St. Anthony Foundation

In the Tenderloin’s struggle with poverty, addiction, and mental illness, St. Anthony Foundation has been a beacon of consistency, companionship, and caring for more than 70 years. We provide our guests with a range of services—from a place to rest or take a shower, clothing, and addiction recovery, to meals, medical care, and workforce development. At St. Anthony’s, we take a different approach, one that delivers meaningful results — Hope. Stability. Renewal.

About Providence Foundation of San Francisco

Providence Foundation’s current programs offer a variety of supportive services for children, families, seniors, and the homeless in the Bay View Hunter’s Point community. While several of the programs focus on youth services, the needs of very low-income seniors, including minority seniors and the frail or disabled elderly, are the central focus of the Foundation’s Senior Housing Project started in 2006, now complete and ready for occupancy for 50 low-income seniors.

About Homelessness and Supportive Housing, Department of The Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH) has a singular focus on preventing and ending homelessness for people in San Francisco. HSH strives to make homelessness in San Francisco rare, brief, and one-time, through the provision of coordinated, compassionate, and high-quality services. HSH launched on July 1, 2016, and combined key programs previously administered by the Department of Public Health (DPH), the Human Services Agency (HAS), the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD), and the Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families (DCYF).

About Kaplan Family Trust

The Kaplan Family’s years as psychotherapists and philanthropists supporting women with children escaping domestic violence elevated their awareness of the terror homeless families experience. The joint venture they proposed with St. Anthony’s, to purchase a city-run family shelter slated for closure and provide life-changing services to the residents to exit homelessness permanently, ensures that St. Anthony’s pathways to hope, stability, and renewal support thousands of families in the future.

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