President Trump recently signed an executive order expanding forced institutionalization of unhoused people with mental illness or substance use disorders. His administration has branded it as an act of “compassion” and “public safety.” Stripped of its veneer, it is neither.…
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By:
Sabine Brown
September 10, 2025 // Updated: September 10, 2025
Gov. Stitt wants Oklahomans to believe a police escort and a bulldozer can solve homelessness. Last week, he ordered the Oklahoma Highway Patrol to sweep homeless encampments from state land in Tulsa, offering people two options: a shelter bed or…
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By:
Sabine Brown
August 20, 2025 // Updated: September 11, 2025
The gap between wages and rent in Oklahoma continues to widen. According to National Low Income Housing Coalition’s 2025 Out of Reach report, an Oklahoma worker needs to earn $20.98 an hour for a two-bedroom rental or $16.85 for a…
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Oklahoma’s housing crisis is worsening. During the 2025 legislative session, state lawmakers had multiple opportunities to reduce evictions, update the Landlord-Tenant Act, and increase Oklahoma’s supply of housing stock. They punted on nearly all of them: Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoed…
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New data from the National Low Income Housing Coalition confirms what Oklahomans already know: our housing crisis is getting worse. Oklahoma needs nearly 85,000 rental homes to meet the needs of extremely low-income renters. More than 7 out of 10…
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Gov. Stitt's veto of Senate Bill 128 is more than a missed opportunity — it's a step backward for housing stability in Oklahoma. This bipartisan bill would have added just five days to the eviction trial timeline and increased the notice period from three to seven days. Five days could mean the difference between a family staying housed or landing in a shelter.
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Retirement should be a time of financial stability and a time to enjoy the fruits of a lifetime of work, but for many seniors, retirement comes with housing insecurity and homelessness. Without prompt action, this worrisome trend will become more…
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It’s been 16 years since Congress raised the minimum wage. Since then, rents have risen by 60 percent. The predictable result of this mismatch is drastic increases in eviction filings and homelessness. [See Oklahoma specific homeless data] Low-wage workers –…
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Updated 3/17/2025 to note floor vote on HB 1129.
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Oklahoma’s housing crisis continues to be a statewide issue as seen through rising evictions, increasing rates of homelessness, and a severe lack of affordable housing options. These growing…
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By:
Sabine Brown
August 19, 2024 // Updated: August 19, 2024
The newly formed Interagency Council on Homelessness of Oklahoma, which is filling the void left by the shuttering of the governor's council. While our council is not officially a state entity, we will carry on our predecessors' work crafting a statewide plan to address homelessness, tracking data, and coordinating care among providers to ensure all Oklahomans have shelter.
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