City of Austin, SOW Family Foundation, and Endeavors Reopen Community Resource Hub in Downtown Austin, Expanding Services at Former Cooling Center Site

The SOW Community Resource Hub, formerly The Oasis and previously a City-designated Cooling Center, officially reopened Monday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and community resource fair that brought together public officials, nonprofit partners, and community members.
 
The Hub continues the site’s tradition of supporting vulnerable Austinites while expanding services to include housing navigation, workforce development, health and wellness programs, benefits enrollment, and other critical supports.
 
“This reopening reflects the importance of providing coordinated, accessible services in a location that has long served as a safe space for our community,” said Director Austin Homeless Strategies & Operations, David Gray. “We are building on the site’s legacy to ensure individuals have both immediate relief and long-term support.”
 
The Hub’s operations are made possible through the generous support of the SOW Family Foundation in partnership with Endeavors and other community service providers.

“We are proud to support this Hub and the expanded opportunities it offers,” said Founder & Executive Director at the SOW Family Foundation, Rachid Sow. “The site continues its history of serving those in need while now connecting people to a broader array of services that help them achieve stability.”
 
Endeavors, which operates the ARCH and Eighth St. Women’s Shelters that border the Hub, emphasized the value of centralized, daily engagement with unhoused clients.

“Partnerships like this allow us to serve others in meaningful ways—delivering consistent, high-quality support and helping individuals transition from shelter to stability through access to critical services,” said David Hernandez, Senior Director of Rapid Response & Recovery Services at Endeavors.
 
Austin City Member Council District 9, Zohaib “Zo” Qadri highlighted the collaborative nature of the effort.
 
“This hub demonstrates what’s possible when public, private, and nonprofit partners work together,” said Council Member Zohaib “Zo” Qadri. “It strengthens Austin’s network of support and builds on the site’s legacy of serving residents in need.”
 
The reopening was supported by contributions from Lowe’s, a corporate donor.  
 
Following the ribbon-cutting, guests attended a community resource fair, which offered housing navigation, employment services, health screenings, benefits enrollment, financial literacy support, and essential items such as meals, clothing, and hygiene supplies.
 
The SOW Community Resource Hub operates Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., at 500 E. 7th Street, between the ARCH and the Eighth Street Women’s Shelter, accessible via the alleyway between East 7th and East 8th Streets.

To learn more visit:
Endeavors - www.endeavors.org
SOW Family Foundation - www.sowfamilyfoundation.org