Thousands of Oklahomans experiencing homelessness could get off the streets and into reliable housing with this one change.
The change?
In Oklahoma, government regulations currently prevent some families from living together. This especially applies to those with prior involvement in the justice system, leading to their immediate rejection for public housing and subsequent separation from their support networks, forcing them into homelessness.
Did you know?
(Source)77,000 Oklahoma children cannot access public housing
because of parents/guardians’ conviction history
230,000+
Oklahomans would benefit from changes to housing regulations
Oklahomans with criminal records are
10x
more likely to experience homelessness
56%
of Tulsans experiencing homelessness mentioned a personal history of incarceration
The justice system is increasing housing insecurity in Oklahoma. It doesn't have to be this way.
OVERVIEW:
Your life changes once you’ve been involved with the justice system. It becomes much harder to find a job, an education, and, most importantly, a safe and reliable place to live.
Even public housing, which is meant to be a safety net for Oklahoma families, is not an option for justice-involved Oklahomans due to strict housing regulations. This forces thousands of people to live on the streets, separated from their families.
This government-sanctioned housing discrimination makes it impossible for many Oklahomans to survive, let alone succeed.
Soften regulations for public housing
THE SOLUTION:
People have already served their time to the community. Get the government out of the way of family unification.
Softening housing regulations will allow more justice-involved Oklahomans to live in public housing. By changing housing regulations, we can also encourage landlords to incentivize public housing and investors to put more money towards community resources that make housing more available.
Oklahoma neighborhoods will be safer.
Studies show homelessness is directly linked to an area’s crime rate (source).
This doesn’t mean people experiencing homelessness are inherently more dangerous; rather, it suggests that a lack of resources can drive Oklahomans to commit “survival” crimes to meet basic needs. If more people experiencing homelessness can find reliable shelter, our neighborhoods will see less crime.
Stable housing helps keep people from re-offending.
Studies show stable housing is linked to reduced recidivism (source).
And those who are able to reconnect with their families have some of the most positive outcomes of all. This change in regulation would allow thousands of Oklahoma families to reunite and live together.
We need your help
The good news: lawmakers are already taking action on this issue. There are several pieces of legislation in the works that, if passed, will lower and reduce barriers for people with criminal convictions accessing housing.
But we need your help to push for momentum. Remind lawmakers this issue is important to you.
