Tulsans know the causes behind the growing number of people who are homeless. There are blueprints for the city to follow on how to reverse the increasing trend before it hits a crisis.
Still, homelessness is getting worse as affordable housing options become more scarce. The plans to avert disaster are not moving fast enough.
While the city of Tulsa has made funding commitments to address the issue, it cannot do the job without more private investment.
The annual Point in Time count required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development was released last week by Housing Solutions, as reported by Tulsa World journalist Tim Stanley. It was a census completed on one day during January.
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Tulsa’s total homelessness in that annual census rose by 26% from last year. This is on top of the 6% increase the previous year in that one-day count.
Here’s a myth buster: Of those counted, 73% first experienced homelessness in Tulsa, and 81% became homeless while in Oklahoma.
There are no busloads of homeless people being trucked in from out of state. The vast majority are people from our city and state who have fallen on bad times. Some cannot afford housing; some need employment or job skills; and some have disabilities getting in the way of obtaining a permanent home.
Chronic homelessness gets a lot of attention because these are individuals often seen on the streets. They have gone without shelter for at least a year — or repeatedly through a year — and have a disabling condition such as a mental health disorder, physical disability or substance abuse additcion.
The count shows a 1.8% decrease in chronic homelessness, indicating progress targeting this population. But more attention is needed for the unseen people and children who are homeless and living in shelters, cheap motels, or with friends or family.
For too long, the city relied on philanthropists to address homelessness.
Mayor G.T. Bynum rightly prioritized housing nearly two years ago. He and the City Council put $75 million into the Improve Our Tulsa 3 package passed in August 2023 and approved adding a low-barrier shelter, which will be operated by City Lights Foundation and is in the process of finding a location.
Bynum posted on X the city efforts undertaken, including more than 50 programs and strategies established; $125.7 million devoted to housing, homelessness and mental health since 2023; 2,675 Tulsans served by the panhandling diversion program A Better Way; 3,909 Tulsa households received emergency rental assistance since 2021; and 342.62 tons of trash picked up from Tulsa right of ways and homeless encampments since 2023 (equal to 1.5 Statues of Liberty).
A citywide housing assessment released in March 2023 found that 12,900 units of housing will be needed in the next decade. That breaks down to 6,100 rentals and 6,900 for sale.
The assessment found that the city has incentives for middle- to higher-income housing, but not so much for the bottom 50% in area median income. Other needed supports are representation for those evicted and updates to the state’s Landlord Tenant Act.
Homelessness is a complex community issue and needs public, private and nonprofit entities moving in one direction. Tulsa knows the problem and has the plans; it just needs to get moving on it.