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Tulsa officials have unveiled the Safe Move Tulsa initiative, a $6 million program aimed at reducing homelessness in the city. The plan, announced by Mayor Monroe Nichols, seeks to provide housing for 300 homeless residents for at least one year. The program requires city council approval, with a vote scheduled for Wednesday (August 20).
Safe Move Tulsa will focus on housing 150 people currently living on the streets and another 150 from homeless shelters. The initiative will cover their rent for a year in apartments across the city, with the goal of transitioning them to self-sufficiency. The program includes support services such as job assistance, addiction services, and financial literacy training.
The city plans to fund the initiative using $2 million from COVID-19 relief funds and $4 million from opioid settlement grants. Mayor Nichols emphasized the importance of outcomes, stating, "It's kind of putting folks on a 12-month track to become self-sustaining." The program aims to cut the known unhoused population by 60% and move toward "functional zero" homelessness by 2030.
City leaders are drawing inspiration from successful models in Denver, Colorado, and Houston, Texas. The city is focused on long-term stability and preventing returns to homelessness. The initiative will prioritize individuals who are employed or have families but struggle to make ends meet.
The Point-In-Time count in January revealed over 1,400 homeless individuals in Tulsa, with shelters at full capacity. The Safe Move Tulsa initiative aims to alleviate this issue by providing stable housing and support services. Mayor Nichols expressed optimism about the program's potential impact, stating, "We can address that issue in the next nine months and hopefully put a 60 percent dent in it."