Q&A: Why numbers don’t tell the whole story of homelessness in OKC

The number of people who are homeless in OKC has grown over two decades. However, numbers can be deceiving.

Oklahoma City Mayor David said homelessness per capita in the city is down, but also said context to data is essential to solving community problems. 

Q: Why is homelessness one of the greatest concerns of OKC residents? 

A: Homeless Alliance chief executive officer Meghan Mueller said homelessness is a visible issue. It sticks out and can create other conflicts in communities where encampments exist. Many communities also see homelessness as an eyesore that impacts neighborhoods’ value and quality of life.  

"It can really seem like homelessness is exploding in our community,” Mueller said. 

Q: What can the Point in Time Count reveal about homelessness? 

A: The city counts people who live outside each year. However, the Point in Time Count number provides a snapshot of who is living outside. Key to Home Partnership Strategy Implementation Manager Jamie Caves said the number is “not intended to tell the whole story.” Her office uses city data to examine trends that show them where gaps exist in resources.

“It lets us be really focused in the way that we are positioning our resources,” Caves said. 

Q: What are the homelessness trends over time in OKC? 

A: On paper, homelessness appears to be increasing, but Mayor David Holt said on social media that OKC's homeless population, compared to the city's growth, has gone down. 

“Unsheltered homelessness is a subset of the total population of those experiencing homelessness, and that subset is (obviously) the most visible,” said Holt on Facebook. “You’ll note in the chart that the population of unsheltered homeless is UP 4.4 percent over the last two decades (though on a per capita basis, it is DOWN 12.5 percent, due to the city’s overall growth).” 

Q: How is data kept across Oklahoma? 

A: Holt said every community collects data differently, which can create false perceptions of the reality of OKC’s numbers in comparison. 

“Some do a city, some do a county, some do a multi-city metro area. For example, OKC’s count is considered as only applicable to our city population, but Tulsa’s is listed as covering its entire county population,” Hold said. “As a result of these different jurisdictional choices, you see OKC ranked lower here in population than we normally would be, considering we are the 20th-largest city and the 42nd-largest MSA. 

“Even without adjusting for metro population, the chart reflects that Oklahoma City’s rate of homelessness is consistent with what you’d expect for a city of our size. Our population of those experiencing homelessness is neither unusually high nor unusually low. Considering we are a large city; we are about where you might expect us to be.” 

Q: How is OKC different from other communities in its approach to homelessness? 

A: OKC leaders have adopted similar approaches to how Houston helps people who lose their housing. Key to Home includes several community organizations that work together to get people into affordable housing. 

Since the program began in 2023, 342 people have homes thanks to this work. The city’s goal is to house 500 people by the end of the year. 

“I do this work because I truly care about people,” Caves said. “I absolutely want to ensure that we’re doing everything we can to serve those people.” 

The city and the Homeless Alliance launched a diversion program this year to help people at risk of homelessness.  

“Resolve the issue in a more cost-effective and less traumatic way,” Mueller said. 

Q: Why is education about homelessness important? 

A: Mueller said stories exist behind the homelessness numbers. She said it's important for people to avoid getting lost in the data. 

“Homelessness is an experience,” Mueller said. “It’s not the defining factor in that person’s life.” 

She said communities that see the value in the people behind the spreadsheet. Mueller said more people will invest in the solutions necessary to save them. 

“I think the better off we’ll be as a community," Mueller said. "Remembering the humanity of an issue like homelessness is really important as we dream about a future where this problem doesn’t exist.”

Mayor Holt said the city will continue to track data to chart the overall progress with this issue. The city will have more data to share at the "State of Homelessness" event on April 29.