Since the pandemic began nearly three years ago, homelessness has skyrocketed across the country, including here in Tulsa.
On Friday and Saturday, volunteers with Tulsa Housing Solutions will perform a point-in-time count to see if homelessness is still rising in Tulsa.
Last year's point-in-time count reported 1,063 individuals and families, sheltered and unsheltered experiencing homelessness in Tulsa.
This count helps the city get a better understanding of the homeless population and get a read on the demographics and their needs.
"Helps us plan for what needs to be done to change homelessness here in Tulsa and on top of that it helps federal funding," said Josh Sanders, director of outreach engagement for Tulsa Housing Solutions. "Having the information on who’s here and what they’re experiencing it helps when different organizations are applying through grants or trying to get funding from a private donor on just having the statistics on who’s experiencing homelessness and why.”
Sanders says over the past few years the count has fluctuated.
In 2015, the count reported 956 people experiencing homelessness. So, the numbers are trending up from where we were 7 years ago, but trending down since the count's peak in 2020.
Sanders said the leading cause is the lack of housing and affordable housing.
This time of the year is an especially vulnerable time for those experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Some organizations open their doors to get people out of the cold.
Tulsa Housing Solutions also says they are distributing hand warmers, tarps, blankets and transporting people to shelters to keep them warm.