Tulsa is gearing up for its first winter storm of the year, with the latest forecast projecting a foot or more of snow and significant ice. Ahead of the storm, the City of Tulsa is ramping up efforts to relocate homeless people to shelters.
Emily Hall, the city’s senior adviser on homelessness, says some people wait until after the storm moves in to seek shelter. That’s a risky decision in freezing temperatures.
“It is a life-saving choice. We want to save your life,” Hall said at a news conference Wednesday.
In coordination with A Way Home For Tulsa, Housing Solutions and other local shelters, the city’s outreach teams are sending workers to find people in need during the cold weather and incoming snow storm.
“Our outreach workers are critical. They have relationships built with our unsheltered population and through those relationships is trust and bringing folks in,” Hall said.
MetroLink Tulsa is also partnering with Housing Solutions to provide shuttle services to people who need to find their way to emergency shelter sites. The city will also work with first responders.
The following winter weather shelters will be open 24 hours a day through the storm, and some will accommodate pets:
- John 3:16 Mission, 506 N. Cheyenne Ave.
- Salvation Army Center of Hope, 102 N. Denver Ave.
- The Tulsa Day Center (pets accepted, limited capacity), 415 W. Archer St.
- CREOKS Winter Shelter (pets accepted, capacity 250), 7216 E. Admiral Place
- Tulsa Dream Center West (pets accepted, capacity 150), 4122 W. 55th Place
The CREOKS and Dream Center locations will operate as shelters from Friday to Sunday night.
“Anyone who needs a safe, warm place during this time will have access to one,” Hall said.
Tulsa’s housing organizations are working with each other to assist individuals in need of resources and assessing capacity for centers. City and county emergency staff will also work closely to coordinate efforts with assigned shelter providers during the duration of the storm period as needed, according to a city release.
Last year, the city supported 15,000 people with winter shelter. When people are offered assistance, they usually take it, Hall said.
News decisions at the Tulsa Flyer are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
