BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – Birmingham city leaders are moving forward with a proposal to create a designated daytime space for people experiencing homelessness, advancing what officials describe as a structured and service-focused alternative to informal gatherings across downtown.
The city council’s Budget and Finance Committee voted to recommend approval of a $168,000 purchase of a vacant lot at 1312 First Avenue North. If approved by the full council, the property would become what leaders are calling an “Urban Oasis.”
Mayor Randall Woodfin said the concept acknowledges a simple reality: people gather — whether housed or unhoused — and the city must be intentional about where that happens…