Homeless Alliance

ENDING HOMELESSNESS IN OKC BY PROVIDING HOUSING, FACILITATING COLLABORATION AMONG CONCERNED COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND OPERATING THE ONLY DAY SHELTER IN OKC.

HOUSING - HOMELESSNESS IS A COMPLEX ISSUE WITH MANY CAUSES, BUT THE FIRST AND FOREMOST SOLUTION IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THE HOMELESS ALLIANCE PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND WRAPAROUND CASE MANAGEMENT TO HOMELESS FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN, HOMELESS VETERANS, CHRONICALLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS, AND PERSONS WITH POSITIVE HIV DIAGNOSIS. DURING THE YEAR, THE HOMELESS ALLIANCE PROVIDED RENTAL AND DEPOSIT ASSISTANCE, UTILITY ASSISTANCE, AND CASE MANAGEMENT FOR 3151 INDIVIDUALS INCLUDING FAMILIES, CHRONICALLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS, AND VETERANS.

COLLABORATION - THE HOMELESS ALLIANCE FACILITATES COLLABORATION AMONG THE 80+ GOVERNMENT, FAITH-BASED AND NONPROFIT AGENCIES SERVING THE HOMELESS IN OKLAHOMA CITY. THIS FUNCTION IS CRITICAL BECAUSE HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES GENERALLY HAVE MULTIPLE BARRIERS TO SUSTAINED HOUSING AND NO SINGLE AGENCY IS ABLE TO ADDRESS ALL BARRIERS. A HOMES INDIVIDUAL OR FAMILY MAY BE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS, ADDICTION, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, LACK OF EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY, GENERATIONAL POVERTY, PHYSICAL DISABILITY OR ILLNESS, AND/OR A CRIMINAL RECORD. MULTIPLE GOVERNMENT, FAITH-BASED AND NONPROFIT AGENCIES MUST WORK TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE MULTIPLE BARRIERS AND ENSURE SUSTAINABLE HOUSING AND TREATMENT. THE HOMELESS ALLIANCE OPERATES THE WESTTOWN HOMELESS RESOURCES CAMPUS WHERE PROFESSIONAL STAFF (PHARMACISTS, PHYSICIANS, LAWYERS, SOCIAL WORKERS, CASE MANAGERS, EMPLOYMENT SPECIALISTS) FROM SEVENTEEN DIFFERENT AGENCIES COME TOGETHER TO ADDRESS HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES' MULTIPLE BARRIERS TO SUSTAINED HOUSING.

DAY SHELTER - WITH APPROXIMATELY MORE THAN HALF OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS IN OKLAHOMA CITY VISITING, THE DAY SHELTER SERVES AS THE "FRONT DOOR" TO ACCESSING SERVICES FOR THE HOMELESS IN OKLAHOMA CITY. THE DAY SHELTER SERVED 87,076 MEALS AND PROVIDED 12,474 SHOWERS TO OVER 4,839 UNDUPLICATED GUESTS DURING THE YEAR. AN AVERAGE OF 175 PERSONS CAME TO THE SHELTER EACH DAY WHERE THEY ALSO CAN ACCESS COMPUTERS AND TELEPHONES, A MAILING ADDRESS, A LENDING LIBRARY, A KENNEL AND PET FOOD FOR COMPANION ANIMALS, BARBER SERVICES, AND A HOST OF CLASSES FOR GUEST INCLUDING ART, AA, NA, BIBLE DEVOTIONAL, AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS THERAPEUTIC AND EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES. WE PROVIDE A SAFE SPACE WHERE OTHER LOCAL AGENCIES THAT FOCUS ON THE GUEST POPULATION CAN ENGAGE WITH GUESTS INCLUDING VETERAN SERVICES, CIVIL LEGAL ASSISTANCE, STATE BENEFITS (TANF, SNAP, ETC.), PRIMARY HEALTH CARE AS WELL AS COUNSELING AND TREATMENT IN MENTAL HEALTH, CRISIS COUNSELING, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, STI/STD TESTING AND, OF COURSE, HOUSING ASSISTANCE.

THE HOMELESS ALLIANCE PROVIDED EMPLOYMENT TRAINING TO 242 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HOMELESS OR AT-RISK OF HOMELESSNESS THROUGH OUR CURBSIDE CHRONICLE PROGRAM. THE CURBSIDE CHRONICLE PROVIDES BOTH A VOICE AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THE DISTRIBUTION OF OUR MONTHLY MAGAZINE. THE MAGAZINE OFFERS BOTH AN ALTERNATIVE TO PANHANDLING AND THE DIGNITY OF SELLING A QUALITY PRODUCT: 113,786 MAGAZINES WERE DISTRIBUTED THIS YEAR. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING A SOURCE OF INCOME, THE CURBSIDE CHRONICLE WORKS WITH ITS VENDORS TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS TO TRADITIONAL EMPLOYMENT AND DEVELOP TIME MANAGEMENT, MONEY MANAGEMENT, AND SOCIAL SKILLS.