OKLAHOMA CITY — The annual count of the homeless in Oklahoma City started around 3 AM Thursday as volunteers assigned to teams went out into the city to survey those without permanent homes.
The federal government requires the Point in Time Count annually as part of grants cities receive to address homelessness and housing.
The early hours and in cold weather are elements in the design of the count. Night time and when it’s very cold tends to lock people in place where they are staying at least until the sun comes up so that teams are less likely to double count the same person moving around the city.
It is a large effort coordinated by both the City of Oklahoma City’s staff who coordinate efforts to address homelessness and the OKC Homeless Alliance.
Last year’s count
In Oklahoma City in 2024, the Point in Time count found:
- 7% of the population are veterans
- 17% are members of families with children
- 36% are female, 62% are male, 2% are transgender or another gender identity
- 45% are white, 35% are black, 9% are Native American
- 9% are youth age 24 or younger
- 20% of the population reports mental illness
- 24% are considered “chronically” homeless
- 62% were staying in a shelter, 13% in transitional housing, 24% unsheltered, 1% in safe havens
Not included in the count
The Point in Time survey does not attempt to count people who are staying in hotels, treatment facilities, emergency rooms, jails or people who are considered “couch homeless,” people who are homeless but temporarily staying with a friend, relative or acquaintance.
Children and the “couch homeless” are often encountered by schools.
According to a report of the Homeless Alliance, Oklahoma City Public School District had 1,952 children experiencing homelessness enrolled at the end of the 2021-2022 academic year, the majority of whom were couch homeless.
Training
Tuesday afternoon volunteers received training at the Homeless Alliance main campus at NW 3rd and Virginia.
They were briefed by staff of the Homeless Alliance and the Key to Home team from the City of Oklahoma City.
At the top, leaders emphasized how important it is to show respect to those who are living outdoors or in structures not meant for habitation.
Volunteers were cautioned to start alerting a camp to their approach well before entering to let inhabitants know who was approaching and why.
Key points volunteers were taught were:
- How to approach a camp in remote areas
- Personal safety
- How to contact someone if there are problems
- How to use an app that volunteers use on their phones instead of paper
Members of the Oklahoma City Police Homeless Outreach Team accompany teams of volunteers to camps that are in remote areas.
Founder, publisher, and editor of Oklahoma City Free Press. Brett continues to contribute reports and photography to this site as he runs the business.