HUD awards OKC $7.1 million in homelessness aid
Key to Home Partnership to distribute funds
02/08/2024
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Link to photo of check presentation
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today it is awarding Oklahoma City with $7.1 million in grants to provide housing for people experiencing homelessness. The award is $2.4 million more than last year’s grant.
On any given night, about 1,400 people experience homelessness in Oklahoma City. Of them, about 500 are sleeping outside. To address homelessness differently in Oklahoma City, a new system of governance called the Key to Home Partnership was launched in April 2023. Key to Home is a public-private partnership of over 40 agencies whose mission is to prevent and end homelessness in OKC alongside the City of OKC and the private sector.
The largest portion of the grant, around $5 million, is being dispersed to Homeless Alliance, City Care, Mental Health Association, HeartLine and Community Enhancement Corporation. $1.4 million is going to Youth Homelessness Demonstration Projects and just under $1 million in funding will go to Hope Community Services and City Rescue Mission for additional housing support.
HUD Regional Administrator Candace Valenzuela announced the award during a visit to City Hall.
“Today’s award for Oklahoma City is a bright spot throughout this area of the country, with increased funding for a total of $7.1 million,” HUD Regional Administrator Candace Valenzuela said. “I’m so proud of the work being done by their Key to Home Partnership, and I’m proud of HUD’s support of their mission. Homelessness has increased nationally, but much less so here in Oklahoma City, and that’s due to great leadership, vision, and the hard work of the community and the Partnership’s homeless service providers.”
Funding through HUD is the largest source of homeless assistance the City receives annually. It helps fill gaps by combining permanent housing assistance for people of greatest need with services like case management to help them stabilize. This funding can also be used for system planning, data improvement and eliminating inefficiencies.
“These funds will help OKC expand our capacity at a time when we are making significant and rapid system refinements through the Key to Home Partnership,” Key to Home Communications Manager Jamie Caves said. “The allocation of additional funds to OKC tells us we are on the right track.”
To get involved or contribute to Key to Home Partnership, visit keytohomeokc.org.
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Media Contact:
Jamie Caves, Key to Home
(405) 205-4916
Jamie.caves@okc.gov
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