St. Anthony Foundation Steps Up to Acquire the Oasis Inn to Serve as a Family Shelter

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

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

59-unit motel located in Cathedral Hill served as an emergency family shelter during the COVID-19 pandemic, had been on the brink of shuttering until St. Anthony Foundation agreed to acquire the facility to ensure women and children stay sheltered and future homeless families have a safe place to land

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (June 27, 2023) – St. Anthony Foundation, committed to providing pathways to stability for thousands of San Franciscans in need annually, is announcing it has agreed to acquire the Oasis Inn from private owners. The City of San Francisco is contracting with Providence Foundation of San Francisco to continue to operate the Oasis as a shelter for homeless families.

Today’s announcement marks a major step in the expansion of St. Anthony’s services. St. Anthony’s intends for the Oasis to continue to serve as a shelter for families, particularly women and their children, including survivors of domestic violence (for short-term or emergency needs). A very generous gift from the Kaplan Family Trust was the cornerstone initiating this project. Matching funds from the St. Anthony Foundation enabled the acquisition of the Oasis Inn.

“This is a game-changer for our community’s most vulnerable families and St. Anthony’s,” said Nils Behnke, CEO of the St. Anthony Foundation. “We look forward to sustaining the Oasis Inn as a shelter for more than 300 women and children annually, for years to come. We are blessed to be able to provide a healing place of refuge for many families as they develop the skills and strength within to build stable, thriving lives. Providence’s shelter services coupled with St. Anthony’s long-term support services will improve the outcomes of the residents.”

Providence will continue to operate the shelter and provide case management services, and St. Anthony’s will offer supplemental services, including medical care and care coordination, that together will reduce homelessness in San Francisco.

Women experience homelessness differently than men. For years, we’ve envisioned offering a place of healing, a sanctuary for women and their children to create a fresh start and exit homelessness and poverty permanently. The biggest obstacle was always the question of ‘where’. The Oasis Inn will be where women can develop stable lives and position themselves to hold the keys to build brighter futures.

Juliana Terheyden, Director of Strategic Projects at St. Anthony’s

Serving the community since 1950, St. Anthony Foundation offers one of the most complete portfolios of direct social services in San Francisco: Dining Room, Free Clothing Program, Resource Center, Medical Clinic, Tenderloin Technology Lab, Transitional Employment/Workforce Development program, Hygiene Hub, Community Safety Services (CSS), St. Clare’s Care, and the Father Alfred Center addiction recovery program.

“The Providence Foundation of San Francisco was conceived on the core value of GOD’S love for the vulnerable and unprotected individuals, especially mothers and children in San Francisco. As a pillar of the Bayview Hunters Point Community and the city, we aim to provide safe places and shelter to those deemed castaways.  We understand that life happens to the best of us, and we need a helping hand without shame or judgment.  Our purpose is to serve, to be a beacon of hope and light in the darkness and restore hope and dignity to each person we touch.  By joining forces with St. Anthony’s Foundation, we can significantly impact many lives in the Bay Area.  We believe in collaboration. The power of like-minded value-driven organizations and love will transform the lives of those who have been forgotten,” said Patricia Doyle, Executive Director, Providence Foundation of San Francisco

“This partnership between the City and our local nonprofits shows what we can accomplish when we work together to address homelessness by focusing on solutions,” said Mayor London Breed. “As we work to expand shelter and housing in this City, this site will continue to be a safe place for our families struggling with homelessness. I want to thank City staff for working closely with St. Anthony’s to secure this property for the long-run, and for working with Providence to provide the services to care for those who need help right now.” 

Residents of the Oasis will have access to St. Anthony Foundation’s primary medical care, mental health treatment, workforce development program, life management skills training, support and navigation for benefits, and access to childcare through partnerships, among other services.

The Oasis will continue to live up to its name by offering stabilizing housing, and more importantly hope, to families struggling with homelessness. This is another shining demonstration of the solutions the city can develop in collaboration with our nonprofit partners.

Shireen McSpadden, executive director of the San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing

“Our office was proud to work with Providence Foundation to pilot the Oasis Inn as an emergency shelter for women and families during the pandemic,” said Supervisor Dean Preston. “When we learned last year that the property was up for sale, we worked with all stakeholders to find a path to preserve the Oasis as a permanent family shelter, and now, St. Anthony’s has stepped up in an incredible way to make this possible by acquiring the property. As a result, hundreds, if not thousands, of lives will be forever changed.”

“The acquisition of the Oasis Family Shelter marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to address homelessness in San Francisco. This collaboration showcases our commitment to providing essential services and support to families experiencing homelessness in our community.  This partnership ensures that the Oasis will continue to serve as a beacon of hope, compassion, and support for the women and families in our community,” said Supervisor Catherine Stefani. 

“St. Anthony’s helps uplift thousands of people each year through our medical care, behavioral health services, job training, jobs, clothing, and food,” said Behnke. “With the purchase of the Oasis Inn, we can significantly and measurably support people to permanently exit homelessness in the city. Simply put, stepping up to save this family shelter is core to our mission and who we are as a Franciscan organization dedicated to uplifting the most vulnerable among us.”

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.

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