The Cost of Homelessness in Oklahoma City April 1, 2009 to March ...

Oklahoma City Cost of Homelessness Study 2009‐2010
1. Places not meant for human habitation, such as cars, parks, sidewalks, and
abandoned buildings;
2. An Emergency Shelter; or
3. Transitional housing for homeless persons who originally came from the streets or
Emergency Shelters.
For the purpose of the Cost Study, the committee also considered individuals and families
fleeing domestic violence to be homeless. By using this rather narrow definition of
homelessness, the Cost Study Committee studied only those persons who had nowhere else
to turn. Although many more individuals and families are precariously housed or are
“doubling up” by staying with friends or relatives, the scope of this study did not permit an
accurate projection of the number of persons/families precariously housed or to study their
costs.
The following organizations or non‐profit agencies provided the leadership and direction for
the Cost Study Committee. Members of the committee included representatives from the
Oklahoma City Planning Department, Oklahoma City/County Health Department, Oklahoma
County Social Services, Oklahoma Department of Human Services, Oklahoma Department of
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Oklahoma Office of Disability Determination,
Oklahoma Department of Health, Oklahoma City Police Department, Oklahoma City Public
Schools, Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund, Homeless Alliance, Catholic Charities, City Care, City
Rescue Mission, First Step for Women, Healing Hands, Neighborhood Services Organization,
Salvation Army, Upward Transitions/Travelers Aid and Red Rock. Several of the members
also serve on the Governor’s Interagency Council on Homelessness (GICH). Also, the
Downtown Library staff were very generous with their monthly meeting space and logistical
help.
The Cost Study Committee extends a special thanks to the following people who not only
participated on the committee, but spent extra time working on methodological issues and
data analysis.
Jane Ferrell Tom Jones Jon Lowry Jay Barnett
Shelly Kuhn Randy Webb Katrina Garcia James Mullins
Leann Davis Dana H. Chism Marisa New John Williams
LeAnn Tyson
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