About Oasis Housing The Beginning
In June 2014 Sharon Evans and Jesus Castaneda married. Both had adult children from previous marriages. Two of Jesus’s four sons had been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. In their 20’s, both wanted to have the same type of experience as their other brothers were having. They wanted to have their own apartment, to go out with friends, to be considered an adult that didn’t need to be living at home with parents. Jesus and Sharon wanted that for them and knew that they needed extra support and supervision.
Sharon began searching for group homes and any program that had support for adults with mental illness. Over a period of several months countless phone calls and online searches were fruitless.
What was learned was that at the time there was no government program at the state, county, or city level for mental illness. Sharon was shocked to discover that even the state of Utah department with services for those with Disabilities didn’t serve people with mental illness. She questioned them. Didn’t they consider mental illness a disability? Who served these people? They had no answer. She kept calling and searching, certain that there had to be services somewhere. She found a handful of places in which other similar adults lived. One had only long-term residents and no expected openings. One had a waiting list expected to be several years long. Two were in such deplorable condition they were not a consideration even though they actively functioned as nursing homes. The boys didn’t need a nursing home. Nursing home facilities were far out of the budget even if that level of service was needed. Online searches led to the website for NAMI, the National Institute for Mental Illness.
Finally, a call led to connecting with people focused on serving those with mental illness and their families and friends. With a strong desire to learn more and better
To understand the illness, Sharon and Jesus joined a support class with other families. The class was facilitated by leaders who also were family members. While informative and helpful; the class also led to discouragement when class members expressed the same frustrations Sharon was feeling about the limitations of support services. Other than psychiatric facilities such as the Utah State Hospital and short-term help at the hospital units, there was almost nothing available to serve people with mental illness. With such limited options for mental and behavioral health support; it seemed decades behind what was now available for people with other disabilities.
Appalled, Sharon decided to create a small program herself. In the 1970s and 80’s Sharon had worked supporting services for people with what is now called developmental disabilities. She and her first husband had written a grant and set up a group home and training program bringing children out of the Montana state hospital.
The goal was to help children leave the institutions and learn skills that would help them be placed in foster homes in the community. It was one of the rst of its kind in the country.
Kevin
Kevin is a huge part of the 'why' Oasis exists. He was lost too soon to death by suicide due to the overwhelming experience of living with severe schizoaffective disorder. There are so many who have lost hope. We want to do all we can to prevent the hopelessness and loss of other amazing people who are struggling with mental illness.
Mission Statement
Oasis Housing provides transitional and permanent housing for high-risk adults living with mental illness. Our mission is to save lives and support each individual in achieving stability, more independence, and a higher quality of life.
Who Oasis Serves
Oasis Housing serves high-risk adults living with mental illness who need safe, stable, and supportive housing. Residents receive caring support in an environment focused on dignity, respect, community connection, daily living support, and long-term well-being.
Why the Work Matters
Stable housing and compassionate support can change lives. Oasis Housing helps create safer futures for individuals facing mental health challenges by providing belonging, encouragement, structure, and a place where residents feel valued, respected, and supported.
Annual Reports and Community Impact
This section will include Oasis Housing annual reports, general organization information, current resident numbers, and community impact updates.
Organization Background and Information
Oasis Housing Inc. provides safe, supportive housing and assistance with daily living needs for high-risk adults living with mental illness. Oasis homes are operated in a caring, family-style environment where residents are treated with dignity and respect. The small size is especially beneficial to residents with high social anxiety, paranoia, trauma and need for frequents safety reassurance.
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