Homelessness is complex, but here are some immediate ways and best practices that anyone can do to help end homelessness in OKC. BE KIND People who are experiencing homelessness are people. How would you normally treat someone you pass on the street? Instead of avoiding eye contact, acknowledge one another. Smile. Say hello. Wave. Treat […]
homelessness
Posted inNews
COVER Inequality check
Dominique Gray lost his safety net at 17. He was sleeping outside of the Ralph Ellison Library in Oklahoma City. Beneath the book drop. For a full year, he experienced homelessness until a librarian connected him to a pathway home. How had things gotten so severe? Bouts of depression, constant bullying and fights at school […]
Posted inNews
‘There just aren’t enough vouchers’: COVID-19 stresses Oklahoma’s already threadbare affordable housing system
Off and on for the last 11 years, Curbside Chronicle vendor Cathy Conner was homeless. Now, she and her family are on the verge of moving into a house — her first home with running water in over a year. To make the move, Conner will receive rental assistance through the U.S. Department of Housing […]
Posted inNews
Cover: Winter contingency
Sixteen people experiencing homelessness in Oklahoma City died during winter 2017. Some froze to death on the streets while others died trying to stay warm in fires that got out of control. Having somewhat of a cold weather plan in place to shelter people experiencing homelessness was not enough to save those lives. That was […]
Posted inNews
City investments
Sixteen projects are in the MAPS 4 package that was unanimously approved by Oklahoma City Council last week. Allocations are based on an estimated $978 million revenue from a one-cent sales tax set to last eight years. During the Aug. 27 meeting in which the package was voted on, many councilmembers said they did not […]
Posted inNews
MAPS package
Oklahoma City council and mayor vote on a MAPS 4 slate tomorrow that includes all 16 proposals with formal presentations at the special meetings. Allocations are based on an estimate that the temporary 1-cent sales tax will generate $978 million in revenue. If passed by council, the package goes to a Dec. 10 vote for […]
Posted inNews
Addressing homelessness
Community members gathered last week for an Oklahoma City Police Department (OKCPD) meeting to discuss homelessness. The community meeting included presentations from Homeless Alliance and the department’s Homeless Outreach Team. Homeless Alliance executive director Dan Straughan kicked off the meeting with a presentation on the various functions of his organization as well as statistics about […]
Posted inNews
Meeting agendas
MAPS 4 public meetings 9 a.m. various dates Oklahoma City Hall 200 N. Walker Ave.
Posted inNews
Street life
Oklahomans in a packed Tower Theatre got a detailed look at homelessness statistics in Oklahoma City. Speakers presented the results of the Point-in-Time count, and city leaders discussed how OKC could better address the issue at the State of Homelessness address June 4. The numbers The Point-in-Time count is an annual one-day count of people […]
Posted inNews
Youth crisis
Sisu Youth Services has seen the number of drop-in clients nearly double since the closure of another nonprofit organization. Sisu has offered resources for individuals since 2010 and last year started offering overnight shelter every night. “It’s with a heavy heart that Be the Change announces the closing of our youth shelter. We have encountered […]