Newsletters | Housing Solutions Tulsa

Newsletter Archive

September 2021

Leadership Council Changes

Due to the rise in COVID cases, the September AWH4T Leadership Council meeting has been cancelled. Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 12 from 1:30-3:00pm at Boston Avenue Church.

Melanie Stewart, VA Homeless & CWT Program Manager, stepped into the role of the AWH4T Leadership Council Chair last month with Jeff Hall’s departure. We are so excited for Melanie to bring her experience and passion to this role!

We will begin seeking vice chair nominations from AWH4T members shortly.

FY 2021 Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Competition: Funding Opportunity

On Wednesday, August 18, HUD released its Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the 2021 Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Competition. In 2020, the Tulsa City and County CoC received a total of $3,238,974 in non-competitive CoC Program Funding. This year, CoC Program funding will be awarded through the normal competitive process.

Please join us for Tulsa City and County CoC’s mandatory informational Technical Assistance (TA) Workshop on Tuesday, September 7, 2021, from 1:00 – 3:00pm. This workshop will provide attendees with an overview of the local application process, as well as instructions for completing the local and project applications. Click here to register for the Zoom meeting.

Information will be provided about renewal project applications as well as applications for new projects through reallocation and/or Bonus funding. We encourage all organizations interested in applying for CoC funding to attend, including organizations that have not previously received CoC funding. The CoC can apply for a total of:

$175,902 in new projects for families or individuals experiencing homelessness, and
$527,707 in new projects for families or individuals fleeing domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and/or human trafficking.

Further information regarding the Tulsa CoC Competition local process, including key dates, can be found here.

Upcoming Training

Join the Morton Comprehensive Health team on September 22nd from 2:00-4:00pm to learn about their services for people experiencing homelessness, helping clients find a medical home, and Medicaid enrollment.

Partner Agency Updates

DVIS

VOCA Fix ensures future funding for DVIS programs and services
Following its unanimous passage in the Senate, the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act was signed into law by President Biden on July 22. This legislation will prevent further drastic cuts to the VOCA Fund, which will help save and rebuild victim services funding. DVIS is excited for this much-needed federal support, which will allow us to continue providing our wrap around services to the Tulsa community alongside our AWH4T partners.
COVID-19 increases need
Like most sectors, victim service providers like DVIS have seen unprecedented challenges throughout the last 18 months. Just as rates of domestic violence have increased, victims seeking help have faced more barriers to life-saving services. Despite the development of new communication channels like DVIS’ texting hotline, individuals have had difficulty reporting abuse or seeking help when confined to tighter quarters with their abusers. Our teams continue to work hard to ensure the safety of survivors. At times like these, we are especially thankful for AWH4T and our fellow partner agencies.

Tulsa CARES

Still providing housing case management and subsidies for people living with HIV and Hep C.
Have secured funds from the Housing Trust Fund/Landlord Guarantee Fund for landlord incentives – exclusively for those housing Tulsa CARES’ clients.
Still accepting referrals for those diagnosed and/or living with HIV/Hep C who may need medical care coordination, mental health, housing and nutrition services.
Can also offer HIV/Hep C educational information to partner agencies and testing for partner agency clients

Volunteers of America

HVRP continues to strive towards the goal of helping veterans obtain gainful employment. Alongside employment related assistance, HVRP coordinates with other community resources to aid veterans in housing, food, veteran services, and other needs that the veteran may require to obtain stability. Our team continues to go above and beyond for their clients. One client in particular has needed ongoing crisis care where our team and other organizations came together to ensure the veteran’s safety over the past few weeks. Providing each veteran with the upmost of care is our continual priority.
The PSH program was recently able to get an individual into housing that had been homeless for about four years.

VA

Most services have moved into the new Tulsa Health Care Center at 91st and Mingo, but Homeless Programs and some mental health services remain at the 11th street clinic.
All programs at 11th street are now located on the 2nd floor.
Homeless walk in clinic is available at 91st street location.

Landlord Tenant Resource Center

The Supreme Court ended the Eviction Moratorium in a 6-3 vote. All agencies should be offering ERAP, even if it isn’t their niche.
The Social Services HUB at Iron Gate is open from 1-4pm, Monday-Thursday to help connect tenants and landlords to rental assistance, legal supports, and other services to help prevent evictions.
If you are working with someone is evicted, they should contact 211 to be connected with housing resources.

Housing Solutions

We’ve moved! Our new address is 2915 E. 5th St. | Tulsa, OK 74104.
54 of the households from Vista Shadow Mountain have been rehoused. The team is working hard to house all residents by the end of September.

August 2021

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Social Services HUB for Eviction Prevention

The eviction moratorium officially ended on July 31, 2021. There are steps tenants can take to stay in their home! Eviction prevention resources are available at Iron Gate from 1:00-4:00 PM (501 W. Archer Street, directly across from the Tulsa County Family Center for Juvenile Justice).

Tenants should arrive at Iron Gate one hour before the court time listed on the summons to apply for and receive services.

Partners on site: Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Restore Hope Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), Early Settlement Mediation, and the Landlord Tenant Resource Center, and more.

Volunteers Needed

We need volunteers to help assist tenants at the HUB. If you are interested in volunteering, sign up using the link below.

Sign Me Up!

Additional Eviction Prevention Resources

If you’re a renter having trouble paying your rent, utilities, or other housing costs (or you know someone in this situation) – or if you’re a landlord trying to stay afloat with tenants in this situation – help may be available. State and local programs are distributing billions of dollars in rental assistance to help renters stay housed during the pandemic.

Visit the CFPB’s Rental Assistance Finder to find out what this means for you and what you can do. The CFPB’s site also includes resources to help renters and landlords understand other resources to help navigate various financial hardships related to the pandemic.

The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness has developed a Step-by-Step Guide for renters that are at risk of eviction. You can find the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) guide at the following link: Step-by-Step Guide for People at Risk of Eviction . Shown below is contact information for two key organizations in Oklahoma that help families at risk of eviction for COVID-19 related reasons:

Oklahoma Emergency Rental Assistance – okcommunitycares.org
City of Tulsa Emergency Rental Assistance – www.cityoftulsa.org/erap

Tulsa Authority for Economic Opportunity Approves Nonprofit Grants to Help Landlords with Unpaid Rent & Repairs

Tulsa Authority for Economic Opportunity (TAEO) approved four Affordable Housing Trust Fund grants to go to nonprofits to help landlords with unpaid rent and repairs. Approved grants include:

Tulsa CARES Landlord Guarantee Fund – Watch Online
Housing Solutions Landlord Guarantee Fund & Make Ready Team
Housing Solutions Rental Assistance Program – Watch Online
Restore Hope Ministries Emergency Rental Assistance – Watch Online

Through landlord incentive programs, agencies can help tenants obtain safe, affordable housing while providing support for landlords who rent to low-income tenants. The Tulsa CARES and Housing Solutions’ Landlord Guarantee Funds will reimburse landlords for unpaid rent, utilities and property damages. Tulsa CARES’ fund will help tenants living with HIV or Hepatitis C and the Housing Solutions’ fund will help tenants experiencing homelessness access safe, quality housing opportunities.

The Make Ready Team grant Housing Solutions received will help landlords make minor property repairs to prepare a property for a tenant receiving services from Housing Solutions. Landlord incentives will only be available to landlords and property managers participating in the City of Tulsa’s Gold Star Landlord Program, a free and voluntary program that provides rewards to landlords who engage in the best rental practices. For more information on the Gold Star Landlord Program, visit http://www.cityoftulsa.org/landlords. The TAEO Board also approved rental assistance grants to Restore Hope and Housing Solutions, which will supplement existing rental assistance programs and help tenants who do not qualify for assistance from federally funded programs.

Community Information

Boston Avenue Church is hosting a Blood Drive on Sunday, August 8, 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Click here for more information.
The Tulsa Day Center is in need of towels, shampoo and toothpaste. Call 918-583-5588 to schedule drop-off. Or, you can send them items directly from their Amazon Wish List.
CSC’s Tulsa Weather Coalition is working to help install free air conditioning units to residents in need. If you or someone you know is in need of an air conditioning unit in their home, you can learn more about CSC’s Tulsa Weather Coalition program by calling 2-1-1. You can also visit them online at https://csctulsa.org/tulsa-weather-coalition.

July 2021

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During the February 2021 storm, outreach teams and volunteers across Tulsa worked to save lives by getting people from the streets to hotels. Our community came together and raised over $1M in a short period of time to support this effort. The generosity and spirit of Tulsans working to take care of their neighbors is truly amazing.

As we enter the final month of the Hotel to Housing Project, we are reflecting on the impact that this has had on people who were living on the streets. A warm shower, a roof over our heads, and access to transportation are some of the things many of us take for granted. For people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, those things are life changing.

Now more than ever, safe and affordable housing options are crucial to the success of reducing homelessness in our city.

City, TAEO Award Tulsa Day Center $100,000 to Launch Landlord Guarantee Fund

The City of Tulsa and Tulsa Authority for Economic Opportunity (TAEO) are pleased to announce the recipient of the first grant from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to the Tulsa Day Center, who will use the money to launch a Landlord Guarantee Fund.

The Landlord Guarantee Fund will be used for tenants participating in the Rapid Rehousing Program, which works with Tulsa landlords to place individuals and families experiencing homelessness into permanent, safe, and affordable housing.

Through the Landlord Guarantee Fund, Tulsa Day Center will guarantee to reimburse landlords up to $3,000 or 3 months’ rent if tenants fail to pay rent or utilities, whichever is exhausted first on a per tenant basis.

“The Tulsa Day Center’s Landlord Guarantee Fund is the first program of its kind in Tulsa,” said Kristin Maun, Housing Coordinator in the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development. “It exemplifies the innovative approach that the City of Tulsa has taken to working collaboratively with landlords and community partners in finding solutions to our affordable housing crisis through our Affordable Housing Strategy.”

The Landlord Guarantee Fund will only be available to landlords and property managers participating in the City of Tulsa’s Gold Star Landlord Program, a free and voluntary program that provides rewards and incentives to landlords and property managers who engage in the best rental practices.

Currently, there are 12 landlords and property managers with more than 400 residential rental properties participating in the program. Other incentives that landlords receive include prioritized processing of applications to the City of Tulsa’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP).

The City of Tulsa’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund is still taking applications.

These funds can be used for the acquisition, new construction, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of affordable housing through loans, grants, and developer assistance. They can also be used for landlord incentives and direct rental assistance through agencies that serve landlords and tenants.

The eviction moratorium will officially end on July 31, 2021.

There are steps tenants can take NOW to stay in their homes. Please help us spread the word about available resources.

Learn More

Overflow Shelter Wraps-up Services

The Overflow Shelter has closed, and we are so grateful for the partners and individuals that worked so hard to create a low-barrier shelter for people experiencing homelessness during the pandemic and winter storm.

In 2020, as shelters were having to reduce their capacity, we were able to partner with Tulsa County to open the doors of the former Juvenile Detention Center, creating additional space for people experiencing homelessness to sleep and receive essential services. The Tulsa Day Center, Salvation Army, and Iron Gate stepped in to run a 24-hour low-barrier shelter during the pandemic.

Not long after we wrapped up services at the Overflow Shelter the first time, Tulsa experienced an unprecedented winter storm and our community once again opened the doors of the Overflow Shelter to keep people alive. The Mental Health Association Oklahoma stepped up to run the facility, working with A Way Home for Tulsa partners to provide case management, food, pet care, and other essential services.

To the directors who lead this work – Kellie Wilson, Noe Rodriguez, Jennifer Rivera, and Major Mark Harwell – thank you for dedication to improving the lives of people experiencing homelessness in Tulsa. Your leadership truly saved lives and we are forever grateful.

June 2021

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June is a historic and somber month in Tulsa as we commemorate the hundreds of lives, homes, and businesses lost in the Tulsa Race Massacre. Black Americans have endured centuries of additional systemic barriers to housing and home ownership that has created wealth disparities which ultimately lead to a higher risk of housing instability.

Housing Solutions and the Tulsa Continuum of Care are committed to the principal that housing is a human right. Every person has unique challenges and we are working to create systems and measure outcomes to ensure equitable access to housing and services.

This year’s Point-in-Time Count dashboards offer a deeper look into the equity of housing and homelessness in Tulsa. I encourage to you explore the data and ask tough questions with us.

There are many ways to get involved with reducing homelessness in our city. Our next A Way Home for Tulsa Leadership Council Meeting will be held on July 13th. You can find more information on the A Way Home for Tulsa Partner Portal. I hope to see you there.

Becky Gligo, Executive Director

2021 Point-in-Time Count

On the night of January 28, 2021…

A total of 1,043 individuals, including children, were experiencing homelessness in Tulsa. We use Tulsa’s Homeless Management Information System and in-person surveys to determine the total number. The numbers below only reflect those who were counted in-person by our team – a total of 1,009 individuals.

The Point-in-Time Count is an annual count of individuals and families experiencing homelessness completed as a mandate from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The count is completed on one day during the last 10 days in January using a combination of survey responses and Homeless Management Information System data.

The survey instrument contains basic demographics required for reporting to HUD as well as more in-depth questions added by the A Way Home for Tulsa team to better understand the needs of individuals and families who are at-risk or experiencing homelessness. It is important to keep in mind that this data is primarily self-reported and provides only a brief snapshot of homelessness in Tulsa.

We have been completing the annual Point-in-Time (PiT) Count of individuals and families experiencing homelessness for over five years. This dashboard includes a six-year longitudinal analysis of Point-in-Time count survey responses. Click the image below to view the 2021 PiT dashboards.