House of Refuge

Pros

• Oasis House provides compassionate care and ongoing support to residents.
• The program helps individuals heal and rekindle relationships with their children.
• The staff and partners are described as among the least judgmental and highly accepting.
• Oasis House guides reintegration into society, offering meaningful aftercare and life guidance.
• Alumni report that Oasis House remains a consistent source of support long after graduation.
• The organization offers grace and understanding, including for those with religious trauma, without pressuring attendance at Bible study.
• Volunteers appreciate being listened to and supported with helpful resources through Oasis House.
• Oasis House is recognized for doing meaningful, life-changing work with grateful staff, volunteers, and residents.

Cons

• The reviewer was unsure how Oasis House conducted its business.
• They were hung up on when a donor attempted to donate large items.
• They stated that donations were not needed at that time.
• The reviewer described the staff as rude and condescending.
• They claimed the organization only helps clients who attend Bible study and withholds services otherwise.
• They alleged that Oasis House blocks people with bad experiences on Facebook to prevent them from leaving reviews.
• They accused the organization of lies, misrepresentation of the women they help, and misappropriation of funds, calling for a public investigation.
• They described being pulled into a room and told they were cheating, with services withheld until Bible study attendance.

Review

The collection of experiences shared about Oasis House presents a portrait of a program that many participants describe as life-changing. One reviewer recounts a two-year stay during which they were able to heal "parts of me I did not know were broken." They emphasize that the organization put in real care and effort, and that the experience helped them rekindle and strengthen their relationship with their kids, who became the family they never had. From their perspective, the staff and partners were among the least judgmental they had encountered, a crucial factor given the trust barriers they carried with them. The tone is deeply grateful: the person speaks of reentering society as a new person and of feeling forever grateful for the opportunity to retake their life, underscoring the transformative potential they believe Oasis House offered.

Another voice within the same thread adds a concise but heartfelt thank-you, highlighting the compassion and care shown during the individual's most fragile stage of life. This sentiment reinforces the broader theme of Oasis House as a safe space for healing, where attentiveness to emotional wounds is a central feature. The gratitude isn't limited to the duration of the stay; an edit later notes that the support continued well after graduation. The reviewer, who identifies as a survivor with experience across many programs, emphasizes that Oasis House has been the first and only program to remain present for them for six months after graduation, treating the years they spent as a resident as part of a continuum rather than an end point.

This same reviewer also offers a nuanced view on belief and spirituality within the program. They claim Oasis House genuinely accepts everyone but express a desire for a clear path and spiritual guidance for those who are not followers of Christ. Yet they also recount a striking contrast: they have never met more accepting Christians - the religious factor, they say, is minimal and not overbearing, and staff will work with you. They describe their own nonreligious stance being treated no differently, framing this as a rare and meaningful flexibility in a faith-based setting. The overall message is one of recognition for inclusive attitudes, paired with a call for broader spiritual options beyond a single faith tradition.

Beyond the personal transformation and inclusivity, several testimonials celebrate Oasis House as a premier, almost-ideal place in the people's lives. Phrases like "the best place on earth" and "the staff and program has helped change my life" appear with regularity, accompanied by expressions of gratitude for volunteering opportunities and for the sense of purpose the organization provides. The reviewers describe the organization as one that not only offers direct services but also invites wider community involvement and presents a set of resources that can be helpful to those navigating difficult circumstances. The sentiment is that Oasis House embodies dedication and accessible support, which motivates ongoing engagement and appreciation.

Yet the collective narrative isn't one-sided. A number of more critical notes emerge, detailing concerns about how business and donations are handled. One reviewer describes a negative interaction when attempting to donate a large amount of goods, including new clothes, electronics, gift cards, and feminine hygiene products. They say they were hung up on, then told that donations were not needed at the moment, and they left with a sense that staff were rude and condescending. This stands in stark contrast to the program's otherwise positive emphasis on community support and gives the impression that, according to this account, there can be mismatches between donor expectations and organizational needs.

The criticisms deepen with another review that alleges conditionality in receiving services. The reviewer claims that help would be contingent on participating in Bible study, asserting that if they missed a Bible study, staff would pull them aside, accuse them of cheating the organization, and withhold the services they were receiving until they returned to Bible study. They also allege that the organization's social media page would block negative experiences from leaving reviews. Taken together, these points present a narrative of gatekeeping and punitive measures linked to religious participation, which could undermine the broader ethos of support that other reviewers praised.

At the strongest pole of critique, one reviewer makes a sweeping accusation of deception and misbehavior, describing "lies, misrepresentation of women they help, misappropriated funds," and calling for a public investigation. This final strand adds a stark tension to the overall picture: while many describe Oasis House as a life-changing and compassionate place, there are voices that warn of serious ethical and operational concerns. The juxtaposition of glowing testimonials with these pointed criticisms highlights the complex and multifaceted reality of navigating aid programs, particularly those with a faith-based framework and an emphasis on aftercare.

This area of Dayton, Ohio is a bustling and convenient neighborhood with a variety of amenities nearby. It boasts several reputable physicians' offices, hospitals, pharmacies, places of worship, parks, restaurants, cafes, and transportation options. With healthcare facilities such as Miami Valley Hospital and Grandview Medical Center in close proximity, residents can easily access medical care. The abundance of dining options ranging from fast food to specialty restaurants like Bar Granada and Table 33 provide plenty of choices for meals. Additionally, the presence of parks like Kettering Field and RiverScape MetroPark offer opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Overall, this neighborhood offers a mix of essential services and recreational activities that could be appealing for seniors looking for a vibrant community to reside in.

Physicians

• Schear Family Practice Network (0.6 miles)
• Adam Jeffery S MD (1.3 miles)
• Richard Allen Turner, MD (2.2 miles)
• Dayton Pain Center (2.2 miles)
• Miami Valley Hospital Pain Center (2.6 miles)
• Miami Valley Heart & Lung Surgeons (2.6 miles)
• Good Samaritan Medical Imaging (2.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• Grace United Methodist (0.6 miles)
• Saint Helen Catholic Church (5 miles)
• Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church (5.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Miami Valley Hospital (0.7 miles)
• Grandview Medical Center (0.7 miles)
• Premier Health Partners (1.5 miles)
• Dayton Children's (2.1 miles)
• Miami Valley Hospital Inpatient Rehab Unit (2.6 miles)
• Miami Valley Hospital Surgery Floor (2.7 miles)
• Miami Valley Hospital (2.7 miles)

Pharmacies

• Khn Pharmacy (0.8 miles)
• Walgreens (1.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.6 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.9 miles)
• Walgreens (3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.9 miles)

Parks

• Kettering Field (0.9 miles)
• Deweese Park (1.3 miles)
• RiverScape MetroPark (1.4 miles)
• Hills & Dales MetroPark (4.4 miles)

Restaurants

• McDonald's (1.1 miles)
• Bar Granada (1.3 miles)
• Uno Chicago Grill (1.5 miles)
• Table 33 (1.5 miles)
• Lock 27 Brewing (1.6 miles)
• The Barrel House (1.8 miles)
• Grist (1.8 miles)

Cafes

• Winans Chocolates + Co (1.5 miles)
• Press (2 miles)
• Starbucks (2.9 miles)
• Pettibone Coffee (4.6 miles)
• Starbucks (5.3 miles)

Transportation

• Dayton Yellow Cab (2 miles)
• U-Haul Moving & Storage (2.2 miles)