Fellow Oklahomans,
On behalf of our friends, neighbors, and family members who are unhoused or experiencing housing insecurity, thank you for your continued support of our efforts to gather information for the State of Oklahoma HOME-American Rescue Plan (ARP) allocation plan.
We were notified that the plan was approved by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). You can now find the officially approved plan on the HUD Community Planning and Development Allocation Plans website. We have also created a public-facing summary of this report, available on this website. In addition, we created an interactive map of resources available to unhoused and housing-insecure Oklahomans. The first draft of this can be found in two formats on this page, (1) interactively through this website, and (2) via download of a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.
We welcome your feedback and ask that you help us verify existing resources and identify additional resources not yet included in the map. There is space below for you to make corrections and suggest additional resources for inclusion. We ask that you use the ID number associated with an existing location and provide as much detail about recommended changes as possible. If adding a new location, the address and contact information for that resource are required. Please also provide your contact information in case we need to verify any information.
It has been a pleasure working with all of you on this project and we look forward to exploring ways we can continue to build on this important work to improve the lives of those struggling to find, keep, and maintain safe, affordable, and healthy housing.
Warm regards,
Bryce C. Lowery, PhD, Associate Professor of Regional and City Planning
Christina Miller, PhD, Associate Professor of Social Work
David McLeod, PhD, Professor of Social Work
Summary Report
Interactive Resources Map
Submit online comments
About the Project
A team from the University of Oklahoma, in partnership with the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency (OHFA), is undertaking an effort to support people who are experiencing homelessness and housing instability across Oklahoma. The project is led by OU Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture and OU Anne and Henry Zarrow School of Social Work.
About HOME-ARP: Oklahoma, through the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency, has received $30 million from The American Rescue Plan (ARP) to assist individuals or households who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, and other vulnerable populations, by providing housing, rental assistance, supportive services, and non-congregate shelter, to reduce homelessness and increase housing stability. OHFA must undertake this planning effort to access HOME ARP funds from the US Dept of Housing and Urban Development.
Project Goals
The goals for the project include:
- Evaluate the size and demographic composition of the population experiencing homelessness or housing instability.
- Assess unmet needs of those populations, including gaps in Oklahoma’s network of shelters, services, and housing solutions.
- Develop a plan, supported by public participation, to meet requirements of a HOME-ARP funding allocation.
Project Activities
The research team will draw on existing data (point in time homeless population counts, existing administrative data and reports, and housing inventory counts), compile and map information about related assets, and summarize observations from homelessness service providers through a surveys, interviews, and regional meetings.
Findings from data and stakeholder engagement will inform the development of a plan to meet the requirements of a HOME-ARP funding allocation. The plan will make it possible to receive and distribute funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) through HUD’s HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME).
Potential Outcomes
After the study, Oklahoma entities can receive funds from the ARP-HOME Investment Partnerships Program. Allocated funds can be used for four activities:
- Production or preservation of affordable housing
- Tenant-based rental assistance
- Supportive services, homeless prevention services, and housing counseling
- Purchase and development of non-congregate shelter
HOME-ARP Program Fact Sheets
Project Timeline
Housing & Homelessness Resources
January 2023 Update
As of December 2022, the surveys for Lived Experience and Providers have been completed as have our Continuum of Care/Regional Meetings for Oklahoma service providers. Throughout the months of September and November, researchers visited Muskogee, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa to interview those experiencing homelessness first-hand in small focus groups. Currently, researchers are working in tandem with the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency to complete the HOME-ARP report. This report is expected to be published between February 1st-15th and can be viewed right here on this website. We are so glad to have you along for the journey, please feel free to ask any questions below. We also invited you to join us for our Public Opinion Meeting on February 8th from 10:00 am-12:00 pm via zoom.
Engagement: Housing Service Providers & Agencies
More than 75 organizations were involved in the project through surveys and regional focus groups.
Housing Service Provider & Agency Survey
Representatives of service providers & agencies were invited to share observations and information through an online survey, receiving 87 responses.
Regional Meetings
Service providers & agencies attended virtual and in-person sessions to discuss the project and share feedback to support the project. 50 people participated.
- Southwest Consultation Meeting, Lawton, July 12, 2022
- Northeast Consultation Meeting, Claremore, July 14, 2022
- Central North & Northwest Consultation Meeting, Enid, July 19, 2022
- Southeast Consultation Meeting, McAlester, July 28, 2022
- Statewide (Virtual) Consultation Meeting, Virtual, August 2, 2022
- Statewide Consultation Meeting, Norman, August 3, 2022
Engagement: People with Lived Experience
More than 80 people with lived experience of housing insecurity and homelessness participated in the project.
Lived Experience Survey
Persons with lived experience of homelessness and housing insecurity were invited to share observations and information through an online survey, receiving 75 responses.
Lived Experience Focus Group
16 participants with lived experience of homelessness and housing insecurity attended a focus group.
Archive: Institutional Review Board Survey Participation Info
Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects
Project Partners
Meet the Team
Bryce Lowery, PhD
Associate Professor of Regional and City Planning
Bryce Lowery, PhD, is an associate professor of regional and city planning in the Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture. He researches physical determinants of health with a specific focus on neighborhood access to resources and community exposure to harm. He teaches courses on spatial planning, data visualization, food systems planning, planning for medical cannabis, and urban design theory.
David McLeod, PhD
Associate Professor of Social Work
David McLeod, PhD, has spent over two decades working to reduce violence, particularly that directed at people and communities with diminished capacities for self-protection. In addition to being an Associate Professor of Social Work he holds affiliate faculty status with the OU Department of Women’s and Gender Studies and the OU Center for Social Justice. He is the Associate Director of Research at the Anne and Henry Zarrow School of Social Work and Director of the OU Ruth Knee Institute for Transformative Scholarship. For more visit www.damcleod.com
Christina Miller, PhD
Associate Professor of Social Work
Christina Miller, PhD, is an associate professor in the Anne and Henry Zarrow School of Social Work. She researches transition services for youth with disabilities, social work pedagogy, interprofessional training, and uses community-based participatory research methods. She teaches generalist practice skills and motivational interviewing.
Shane Hampton, AICP
Executive Director of University of Oklahoma Institute for Quality Control
Shane Hampton, AICP, is the executive director of the University of Oklahoma Institute for Quality Communities. He works with local leaders, advocates, developers, and residents to develop urban planning strategies. Through IQC he has worked with more than 50 communities ranging from rural towns to metropolitan cities.
Sara Delroshan
Master of Regional and City Planning Candidate
Sara Delroshan is a Master of Regional and City Planning student at the University of Oklahoma. Sara has another master’s degree in urban design from Shahid Beheshti University in Iran. She received her undergraduate degree in Architectural Engineering from Islamic Azad University in Iran. Sara has experience in architectural designing several types of housing for seven years. However, Sara is passionate about working and engaging with diverse people.
Benjamin Watson
Master of Social Work Candidate
Benjamin Watson is a Master of Social Work candidate at the University of Oklahoma. He received his undergraduate degree in Human Development and Family Sciences with an emphasis in child and family services from Oklahoma State University. Benjamin has extensive experience in the fields of food insecurity, child sexual abuse, and currently works with individuals experiencing deep grief.
Emily Roberts
Master of Social Work Candidate
Emily Roberts is a Master’s of Social Work candidate at the University of Oklahoma. Emily received her undergraduate degree in Human Development and Family Sciences with an emphasis in child and family services from Oklahoma State University. Emily has research and work experience in the criminal justice system, domestic violence, integrated health care, family systems, and more.
Melissa Navarro
Master of Regional and City Planning Candidate
Melissa Navarro is a Regional and City Planning Master’s student at the University of Oklahoma. She is a Civil Engineer with experience in affordable housing construction and sustainable architecture strategies. She also has research experience on planning for medical cannabis and cities’ flashflood vulnerability.
Emily Johnson
Master of Social Work Candidate
Emily Johnson is a Master of Social Work candidate at the University of Oklahoma. Emily received her undergraduate degree from the University of Central Oklahoma with an emphasis on Vocal Performance and Sociology. She has previous work experience in homelessness, housing insecurity, domestic violence, community mental health and vulnerable adolescents..
Henry Wilson
Master of Regional and City Planning Candidate
Henry Wilson is a Regional and City Planning Master’s student at the University of Oklahoma. He has a bachelor’s degree in Geography and Resource Development from the University of Ghana. He has research experience in architecture, focusing on the role of architecture in the public expression of grief and environmental design for eye care. Henry also has experience in fieldwork and data collection.
Kevin John Thomas
Master of Regional and City Planning Candidate
Kevin John Thomas is a Master’s of Regional and City Planning student at the University of Oklahoma. He did his Bachelor’s in Architecture from BMS College of Architecture, Bangalore, India. He has worked on projects ranging from private dwellings to public domain initiatives. He also has research experience in urban design projects. Currently, he is focusing on community development and transportation planning.