Mayor G.T. Bynum and the Community Service Council hosted more than 300 business, nonprofit, faith-based and community leaders at the A Way Home for Tulsa Strategic Planning Kickoff today. Event participants learned about various causes of homelessness before an interactive feedback session. The information gathered today, along with research, focus groups and other citywide feedback tools will guide Tulsa’s most comprehensive plan for preventing homelessness.
“In Tulsa we are thankful for the many public private partnerships that are creating programming and housing for one of our most vulnerable populations,” Mayor Bynum said. “We have so much knowledge, passion and resources in our city around this issue. By coming together to create a strategic plan, we can help make a difference in the lives of Tulsans facing homelessness.”
The current number of people experiencing homelessness in Tulsa increased by seven percent over the last 10 years and is now close to 6,000. Solutions require both immediate and long-term strategies to address the underlying causes. The Community Service Council, as the coordinating agency for 26 private and public partners in A Way Home for Tulsa (AWH4T), has hired a national consultant, Homebase, to create a strategic plan and economic investment pathway. Homebase will facilitate table discussions and reconvene the entire group to agree on a call to action. Information gathered will be used in developing the strategic plan.