Outside the box
Downtown development is casting a spotlight on homelessness, but what are we doing about it?
(page 4 of 5)
The way forward
Representatives of city and community agencies meet regularly to discuss Tulsa’s collective challenges with homelessness, mental health and substance abuse. One such meeting focuses on the downtown response to these issues and has resulted in the following proposed solutions:
- Develop a coordinated inter-agency response and an organized continuum of services to prevent people from “falling through the cracks”
- Create a centralized call center
- Train Tulsa Police and the Public Service Ambassadors in mental health response
- Update Tulsa’s anti-panhandling ordinances
Tulsa can also take cues from the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty. In addition to several of the above solutions, the agency recommends state and local governments take the following actions:
- Cease enforcement of criminalization laws and stop creating new ones
- Adopt a Housing First Model and create innovative new and affordable housing solutions
- Create transition plans from jail/prison/hospitals
- Enact a homeless bill of rights
A variety of circumstances lead to homelessness, but when it comes down to it, homelessness is caused by a shortage of affordable and appropriate housing. Punitive and discriminatory measures are expensive, ineffective, dehumanizing and unconstitutional—they violate the basic human rights of the most vulnerable in our community.
At least among experts who spoke with the Voice, there is motivation and optimism to foster a safe, vibrant and compassionate downtown.
“I think we actually have, in Tulsa, the pieces to make that work,” Yates said. “We have enough caring groups, organizations and individuals to make it work. I think now it’s really on us to come together and to figure out how all that works together for the common good.”
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