As a street outreach and housing service provider in the Tulsa area, we are extremely concerned by Governor Stitt’s “Operation SAFE” program that does nothing to address the root cause of homelessness.
Each day, our outreach teams engage with Oklahomans experiencing homelessness and work tirelessly to get them into housing, connected with healthcare, and find a supportive community. Using Highway Patrol to clear encampments will not only traumatize Oklahomans trying to survive out in the elements but it does nothing to increase our supply of affordable housing and supportive services. At a time when the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services has cut over $40 million in critical mental health services, Oklahomans desperately need more resources from our state government to address the root causes of homelessness, not push the issue to another street corner because we think it looks ugly.
We implore Governor Stitt to rethink Operation SAFE and instead, direct resources to increasing affordable housing, treatment, and supportive services in Tulsa.
Carrie Blumert, Chief Executive Officer