Building a path forward: How OKC is tackling homelessness together

Homelessness continues to affect thousands of people in Oklahoma City, but coordinated efforts across sectors are showing signs of progress. Public, private and nonprofit organizations are working together to connect people to housing, services and long-term support. 

An important step was the launch of the Key to Home Partnership in April 2023. More than 50 organizations now collaborate to prevent homelessness and strengthen the response system. The partnership follows a housing first approach, aiming to make homelessness rare, brief and nonrecurring. That model helped slow the increase in homelessness, even as other cities have seen sharper rises. 

At the core of the effort is the Key to Home board, which sets yearly goals. Action teams—made up of service providers, people with lived experience and other stakeholders—develop and test strategies. Regular feedback and data reporting guide adjustments and improvements. 

In Key to Home’s 2025 Point-in-Time count, 1,882 people were experiencing homelessness within the city. Of those, 433 were chronically homeless, 421 were unsheltered and 128 were veterans. Though the overall number increased by 2.4% from 2024, it was a significant slowdown from the 28% rise the year before. The chronic unsheltered homelessness dropped by 33%, signaling progress in reaching people with the greatest needs. 

The importance of reworking the system 

The city and its partners are shifting from a crisis response model toward a prevention and housing-focused system. Instead of simply expanding shelter capacity, the aim is to reduce the number of people entering the system and increase the number moving out of it. 

This long-term goal, often called "inverting the funnel," is guided by three strategies: 

1. Prevention and diversion, which reduces the number of people who become homeless. 
2. Housing exits increase the number who leave the system into permanent housing. 
3. System balance leads to an equilibrium of exits with inflow, stabilizing the system. 

The Diversion and Rapid Exit Pilot, launched recently, addresses the rising number of people entering homelessness. It helps individuals quickly identify safe alternatives without relying on shelters. 

The power of a shared responsibility 

Addressing homelessness requires more than policy changes. It takes sustained cooperation between local government, service providers, property owners, businesses and residents. The city proves that steady investment and collaboration lead to measurable outcomes. 

For residents and businesses alike, the message is clear: OKC is not standing still. By choosing to invest in coordinated solutions and rallying the community, the city is working toward a future where everyone has a safe place to call home. 

A Key to Home Partnership success story 

The Encampment Rehousing Initiative has become a central strategy. The approach starts with outreach teams building trust with people living in encampments. Meanwhile, landlord engagement teams secure housing and rental support. Partner organizations furnish apartments and supply basic needs. Once housed, people receive 12 months of case management to help stabilize their lives. The final step: encampment sites are cleaned and secured. 

Results so far: 

• 25 encampments closed 
• 444 people moved into housing 
• 93% of individuals engaged accepted housing 
• 43% decrease in targeted population over two years 

Sustaining progress

With the Encampment Rehousing Initiative expected to house 500 people by the end of 2025, the focus will shift to maintaining progress. That means continued investment in outreach, housing, staffing and case management to support those who remain unsheltered. 

To strengthen exits, the city is: 

• Sustaining housing units added through Encampment Rehousing 
• Expanding permanent supportive housing through MAPS 4 
• Increasing participation in the Landlord Engagement Team, making housing access faster and more efficient