Nonprofits that focus on permanent supportive housing (PSH) programs play a pivotal role in addressing homelessness and housing instability, especially in states like Oklahoma, where affordable housing is in short supply, and eviction rates are alarmingly high. As an indicator of success, housing stability rate is a critical element of PSH programs. It tells us […]
Skeeter’s story is about determination, resilience, and the power of second chances. Having faced the challenge of homelessness compounded by substance use, Skeeter’s journey had been a tumultuous one. Previous attempts at housing were unsuccessful, primarily due to the complexities of his substance use. However, Skeeter’s life turned positive when he joined our housing program
From homelessness to housing to a valued MHAOK employee Read More »
Angel, a native Oklahoman, was a mere twelve years old when she slipped out of the only place she called home and into the unknown. For five years, each day was a struggle for hope, a struggle for survival, as she endured the unforgiving reality that her stepfather’s sexual abuse was shattering her. “I had
Street Outreach houses an ‘Angel’ Read More »
Imagine a bridge. One side of it is rickety, precarious. The area on that side of the bridge is derelict, but most don’t know it because most don’t see it. It could be hidden by trees or dilapidated structures, or it could go unseen simply because so many people don’t know or care to look.
As we continue to advocate for the most vulnerable Oklahomans, we recognize and applaud the innovative leadership at all levels who work alongside us in this fight to end homelessness. As our own Kelly Dyer Fry said in Sunday’s op-ed for the Oklahoman (a paper at which she was the editor for nearly a decade),
An inside view of Governor Stitt’s dissolution of the GICH Read More »
Just FIVE days until the best party in town! Viva Carnivale! Three decades in the making, this annual fundraiser helps us fund the programs that help vulnerable Oklahomans in need. After the first year, we were able to open Walker Hall, Mental Health Association Oklahoma’s first housing program. At that time, the proceeds benefitted twelve
The countdown is on! Read More »
As advocates for the most vulnerable in our community, it is imperative that we continue to raise awareness, strategically and comprehensively. Saturday’s edition of the Tulsa World included a valuable piece on the alarming affordable housing deficit and its clear impact on our fight against homelessness. Click here for the digital version of the latest
True homeless count overflows ONEOK Field: an op ed by Terri White Read More »
Way back in 1990, Mrs. Suzanne Warren co-chaired the inaugural Carnivale, which was then called Le Masquerade. The fundraiser was so successful that it allowed Mental Health Association Oklahoma to open its first housing program, Walker Hall, the following year. At that time, proceeds benefitted only twelve tenants, but thirty-three years later, our annual fundraiser
Our dedication to working with both community partners and elected officials to assist those in need of housing and mental health services made the front page of the Tulsa World, this weekend. Kevin Canfield dives into Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum’s Homelessness Task Force, examining the needs of those experiencing homelessness along with strategies to address
Housing First is more than simply moving people from the streets to the protection of four walls and a roof. It’s an evidence-based method that has been gaining traction since the 1990s in North America, with the key ingredient of harm-reduction, informed services – in other words, wraparound services that address the root of an
Housing First is the solution Read More »
