MHAOK and other Key to Home partner agencies conduct OKC's annual Point-In-Time Count

For most of today, partner agencies across Oklahoma City, including Mental Health Association Oklahoma, are putting their boots on the ground to conduct its annual Point-in-Time (PIT) count, an essential initiative aimed at providing a snapshot of homelessness in the community. At 3:00 a.m. well over 100 hyper-caffeinated volunteers bundled up to kicked off the count. Led by the Key to Home Partnership, teams of approximately six headed out into sub-freezing temperatures to visit?encampments, the underside of bridges and other hidden corners of the metro, as well as shelters and day centers to survey individuals experiencing homelessness. The survey helps agencies track trends, identify service gaps, and establish new or refined programming to assist people in transitioning out of homelessness.?

The PIT count is vital to not only understanding the scale of homelessness in Oklahoma City but also to coordinating the city’s response to the issue. Since its launch in April 2023, Key to Home has convened more than 50 local agencies to address homelessness through housing-first initiatives and community support. Our group’s goal is ambitious: to reduce youth homelessness by rehousing or diverting 100 youth by 2025, and to reduce chronic unsheltered homelessness by rehousing 500 individuals by the same year. The 2024 count identified 1,838 “countable” individuals experiencing homelessness in the city, an increase of 402 from 2023. Paired with that, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released its annual report on homelessness last month, stating that Oklahoma’s homelessness rate increased 17% from the previous year’s report, mirroring a broader national trend of rising homelessness. Nationally, the rate increased 18% during the same period.?

MHAOK plays a critical role in addressing homelessness in the state, particularly among individuals at the intersection of mental illness and homelessness. Since Key to Home’s inception, the Association has been a partner, providing essential services to individuals who often face the dual challenges of mental health issues and lack of stable housing. MHAOK’s work focuses on providing supportive housing and paired with wraparound services that help connect individuals to critical mental mental health care and/or substance use treatment while they regain stability and begin to thrive. With more than 1,500 units of affordable housing in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, MHAOK is at the forefront of tackling homelessness, ensuring that people who need it most have access to safe, stable housing.?

The benefits of the PIT count extend far beyond just tracking numbers. It helps local officials and service providers identify key trends in homelessness, such as increases in specific subpopulations, like people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community and veterans; and it works to ensure that resources are allocated effectively. It also helps leaders monitor progress toward key goals, like reducing chronic homelessness and the unsheltered population. Equally critical, the count emphasizes the importance of collaboration among agencies to create a comprehensive response system. Partner agencies, including MHAOK, work together to connect people experiencing homelessness with the resources they need to rebuild their lives, from housing to mental health care.?

The PIT count is also vital for advocating for systemic change. Data collected during these counts informs policymakers and local governments about the scope of homelessness in their communities, which can lead to more funding and support for housing initiatives. By identifying trends and shifts in the homeless population, it helps agencies tailor their strategies to meet emerging needs, like youth homelessness or mental health support. Having data available on homelessness levels also allows for more informed public discourse and advocacy efforts, encouraging communities to support long-term solutions to homelessness, like affordable housing development and access to mental and physical health care or substance use treatment services.?

Homelessness advocacy, including initiatives like the PIT count, promotes a more inclusive, compassionate approach to addressing homelessness and shines a spotlight on the need for ongoing systemic improvements and public-private partnerships. When communities understand the complexities of homelessness, including its impact on mental health and substance use disorders, they are better equipped to support individuals in their journey toward recovery and stability. Preventing and ending homelessness benefits everyone, creating stronger, healthier communities where individuals have the opportunity to thrive.?