Tulsa partners launch Just Home project to address homelessness and justice involvement

A groundbreaking initiative aimed at tackling homelessness and criminal justice involvement was unveiled during a recent meeting of the Tulsa Authority for Economic Opportunity. The Just Home project, a collaborative effort involving multiple organizations, seeks to address the intertwined issues of housing instability and justice involvement for vulnerable populations in Tulsa.

Launched in response to a request for proposals from the MacArthur Foundation, the project aims to break the cycle of chronic homelessness and justice involvement. Juwan, a key figure in the initiative, emphasized the importance of a multifaceted approach, stating, "We want to tackle homelessness, the housing crisis, and housing affordability in general." The project has secured significant funding, including a grant of up to $75 million and a low-interest loan of $5 million, to support its implementation.

Jacob Beaumont from Housing Solutions highlighted the alarming statistics linking homelessness and criminal justice involvement, noting that individuals experiencing homelessness are 10 to 13 times more likely to encounter the criminal justice system. The project specifically targets 778 households identified through data analysis, focusing on those with co-occurring issues of homelessness and justice involvement, particularly among BIPOC populations.

Community engagement has been a cornerstone of the Just Home project, with Shada Brown from the Terrence Crutcher Foundation reporting that over 13,500 individuals have been reached to gather insights and feedback. This engagement has led to the formation of a lived experience advisory board, ensuring that those directly affected by homelessness and justice involvement have a voice in shaping the intervention.

As the project moves into the implementation phase, plans include a scatter-site model for housing, strategically located near essential services. The next steps involve seeking city council approval for the necessary funding and continuing community engagement to refine the project further.

The Just Home project represents a significant step forward in addressing the complex challenges of homelessness and justice involvement in Tulsa, with hopes that it will serve as a model for future initiatives aimed at fostering equitable housing solutions.