OASIS Women’s Shelter has served Owensboro since 1980, operating from the same location for the past 25 years. Last week, they found out they would be relocating when their lease runs out with The Housing Authority of Owensboro in 14 months.
Although officials are unsure where they will go, OASIS will continue to offer services to women and their dependent children in Owensboro and the surrounding counties with the same dedication as they have offered the past four decades.
Suzanne Craig, board chair of OASIS, said their organization is not in jeopardy; the location is just going to look a little different.
“Obviously this was shocking because we had been in the same location for such a long time,” Craig said. “We are already working with the local government; we have quite a few meetings looking into grants and both short- and long-term options.”
OASIS, which offers a safe place for women and children to escape domestic violence, also provides counseling services, emergency services, community education, referrals for substance abuse treatment, individual counseling, crisis intervention and legal advocacies.
“Safety is at the heart of every decision we are making for both our residents and our staff,” Craig said. “We take it into strong consideration in our decision making moving forward.”
Craig said their board is very optimistic and even though the process may be lengthy, the support of elected officials and grants could help OASIS to land in an even better location.
“We serve 2,200 people a year in residential and non-residential and we know that those individuals are counting on us,” she said. “We do want to stay in the Owensboro area; we have strong community partner support here.”
Craig, who is proud to serve on the board for OASIS for the past eight years, remembers what drew her to this nonprofit in the first place.
“I was drawn to OASIS at my job with the Health Department. There were women who had their baby, got released, got in a cab and came straight to OASIS,” she said. “That’s what pulled on my heartstrings — it serves a need, not just for the women but for a future generation.”
Those who want to donate or need services can visit their website at oasisshelter.org.
“We are at the beginning of solving this problem, we are still pursuing options and having conversations, looking to find our temporary or long-term home,” Craig said.
The Owensboro Times did not publish the location of OASIS services for the safety of its clients.
