City and Tulsa Public Schools to seek $5 million state opioid grant focused on housing‑first recovery

The committee considered a resolution to authorize a joint application with Tulsa Public Schools for an Oklahoma opioid grant, intended to continue prior work and expand housing supports for people with opioid substance‑use disorders.

Emily Hall and other presenters described the proposal as a continuation of earlier cycles in partnership with Tulsa Public Schools and local recovery programs. The city is seeking $5 million; staff said roughly $4.3 million of the request would fund housing supports and approximately $700,000 would fund program governance, communications, Tulsa Fire Department continuation of an opioid response team and school‑based prevention programming through Tulsa Public Schools.

Staff described the housing component as using scattered‑site rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing paired with recovery supports and case management. Officials said program outcomes depend partly on the availability of rental assistance vouchers in the community; staff estimated the grant could serve roughly 200–400 people across the three‑year grant period depending on voucher availability and other matching resources.

Councilors asked for more detail on how many housing units the funding would create or support; presenters said the number of individuals served will vary based on whether vouchers cover rental costs. Presenters also noted a planned 1:1 private match for some grant dollars and encouraged council support letters for the application. The item included an emergency clause to meet state deadlines for the June application.