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Oklahoma anti-camping law at odds with local initiatives aimed at homelessness

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Oklahoma anti-camping law at odds with local initiatives aimed at homelessness


When Lisa P. lost her motel job in October 2023, she and her partner, John P., also lost their home. A room at the inn was included with Lisa’s employment. With nowhere to go and no safety net of family or friends to fall back on, the couple, both in their early 40s, took to the streets of Oklahoma City, homeless and sleeping in a tent. 

On June 13, the two took shelter from the sun under W Oklahoma City Blvd. 

They usually camp on state property, like in the shade of overpasses, and officers don’t usually bother them, they said. They are quiet and keep to themselves, along with their 8-month-old pit bull, Faith, who kept a keen eye on the raucous group of younger people occupying the other side of the underpass, across the street. 

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Soon, Senate Bill 1854 will require officers to take action with people such as Lisa and John. 

Effective Nov. 1, Oklahoma will join several other states including Kentucky, Florida, Missouri, Georgia and Texas, in enacting a statewide anti-camping law that will limit where the estimated 3,800 Oklahomans experiencing homelessness are allowed to sleep when unsheltered.

Those bans were adapted from model legislation provided by The Cicero Institute, an Austin, Texas-based think tank that works to persuade legislators nationwide to strengthen unauthorized camping laws and require government-sanctioned homeless encampments. 

Oklahoma’s new law is a watered-down version of stricter anti-camping bans like those approved this year in Kentucky and Florida that fall almost perfectly in line with the Institute’s Reducing Street Homelessness Act. 

OPINION: Homeless people in Oklahoma City want jobs. It’s easier said than done

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Statewide, many social service groups oppose the new law and the Cicero model bill behind it, calling them inhumane and a further hindrance to fixing the real problems behind homelessness. 

Driving people into hiding rather than providing them with life-or-death assistance is an injustice of human rights, they contend. Service providers want the state to direct action and attention to supporting their city-wide efforts rather than passing legislation that adds to the plight of Oklahoma’s homeless. 

“One of our main concerns, outside of the dehumanizing impact that some of these bills have, is they’re punitive, and they’re criminalizing people who are already incredibly vulnerable,” said Meghan Mueller, CEO of The Homeless Alliance in Oklahoma City. 

Oklahoma’s law criminalizes camping on unauthorized state land or rights-of-way such as under bridges or alongside public roads and highways.

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Offenders can be fined up to $50, charged with a misdemeanor and sentenced up to 15 days in jail if they refuse to relocate themselves and their belongings to authorized areas or accept a ride from law enforcement officers to a nearby shelter or service provider.

“There are not nearly enough shelters in the state, nor is there enough program funding to assist the thousands of Oklahomans who do not have a safe place to call home,” Mark Davis, the chief programs officer of Mental Health Association Oklahoma told Oklahoma Watch via email.

“We have a dire lack of affordable housing in this state already, and criminal charges often disqualify individuals from options that are available,” he said.

Not all legislators agree with the new camping ban. Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, voted against it, speaking out in the bill’s debate on the Oklahoma State Senate floor. 

“The law could derail the real progress we are making to build trust and connect people with the resources they need to rebuild a thriving life,” Kirt told Oklahoma Watch. 

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Oklahoma City homelessness: 2024 Point in Time count shows 28% increase, yet progress made

Avoiding worse outcomes

“We’re not trying to ensnare people in the criminal justice system,” said Devon Kurtz, the public safety policy director at The Cicero Institute. “The intention is not to have this be enforced in such a way that all of these individuals are going before judges and getting fines.” 

Kurtz said encouraging police interaction with people before they create encampments of multiple tents could curtail worse legal outcomes. 

He gave a hypothetical example of a spot in a park where a couple of unhoused people set up camp. Then a few more join, and two weeks later another six people join. Suddenly, the area has become a small compound and law enforcement is bound to get involved, Kurtz said.

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“Someone brings some sort of propane tank and open burner, (which could explode) and someone else is doing drugs, and it just gets unwieldy,” Kurtz said. “Police are able to charge them with felonies, trespassing or public endangerment; they’re going to find parts of the criminal code that will apply to resolve the situation.”

Kurtz said cities avoid situations like this by charging the minimum misdemeanor possible rather than finding other types of criminal charges.

More: Housing groups launch new homelessness council after Stitt dissolved the official one

Concerns about state’s trajectory in fighting homelessness

The new state law collides with the Housing First model, which is the framework for Tulsa and Oklahoma City coalitions fighting homelessness at the grassroots level. 

The Cicero Institute asserts that Housing First is a broken model. Kurtz called Housing First a failed experiment. 

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The National Low Income Housing Association stated that the Cicero punitive measures are ineffective, outdated, and dangerous.

The Cicero push against Housing First and toward government-sanctioned homeless encampments sparks deep concerns in Oklahomans working at local levels to reduce homelessness in a humane and permanent way.

They would rather see more money invested in shelters and housing initiatives. They are concerned with sanctioned encampments pushing people out of sight into areas with large numbers of residents and few rules and resources.

With shelters full, more than 500 people sleep unsheltered nightly in Tulsa. Oklahoma City is short about 433 shelter beds. 

“So if you expect them all to have to stay in a sanctioned encampment, it’s either going to have to be a very large encampment or multiple smaller encampments,” Josh Sanders, the director of outreach at Tulsa Day Center, said.

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He said the outcomes for people living unsheltered are better when they stay in small camps where they have more control over who they live with. 

“When you force 100 people to live together, chances are you’re going to have a significant number of those people who don’t get along, and you’d have issues that arise out of those people,” Sanders said.

Law could disrupt housing effort

Key to Home in Oklahoma City and Pathway to Home in Tulsa are moving camp by camp, housing the residents and cleaning up the old encampments. 

In both cities, the Continuums of Care have tacit agreements with law enforcement not to break up encampments where nonprofit coalitions are working to rehouse the residents. 

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Camping bans and sanctioned camps are steps toward destabilizing the progress that active, on-the-ground nonprofits are working toward, Sanders said. 

SCOTUS could rule

The U.S. Supreme Court could soon decide that Cicero-inspired anti-camping legislation like Oklahoma’s equates to cruel and unusual punishment as defined under the Eighth Amendment. 

The court heard a case out of Grant’s Pass, Oregon. At issue is whether enforcing camping bans on public property is constitutional when a jurisdiction has too few shelter beds available for its homeless population, as is the case in Oklahoma.

The Cicero Institute is one of dozens of groups that filed amicus curiae, or friend of the court briefs, in the case. The brief claims camping bans are a compassionate way to redirect unsheltered homeless individuals to existing shelters. 

The Grant’s Pass decision will guide how aggressively states and localities can police their homeless while protecting the Constitutional rights of people living on the streets across America. 

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Oklahoma’s homeless waiting for help

If camping bans are enforced in Oklahoma, Lisa and John said they’ll do what they see many other Oklahomans living on the streets do; they’ll head to wooded areas of the cities and try to stay out of view. 

They don’t agree with the law and said they’d take a $50 fine. Police know they can’t pay that. 

“But I ain’t going to jail,” Lisa said. 

The couple said they might support the idea of a government-sanctioned encampment if the shelters have locks or security. 

They said that having a safe, legal space that assists with their basic human needs, such as insulation, food, bathrooms, and showers, would provide some relief from the intense stress of street homelessness. 

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The theft of his ID was a big setback for John, who said he was supposed to start a job but couldn’t without identification. Theft is one of the biggest threats people face on the streets. 

They’ve tried to navigate the city’s Continuum of Care system, doing everything they know to do. But so far, their names haven’t come up on the Homeless Management Information System as eligible for housing. 

“They’re finally starting to house people but it’s just so slow,” John said.

Lisa and John said the crackdown on camping is wrong. If shelters are full, why should law enforcement be pushing people off state land? 

“All they’re going to do is take you to a homeless shelter that has no beds, or they’re going to take you to a food bank,” John said. “It’s pointless.”

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Lisa agreed, saying camping bans hurt more people than they help.

While Lisa and John wait for their names to come up for rehousing, they said police are already actively dismantling encampments. They see a disconnect between the way local law enforcement handles homelessness and how nonprofits are trying to alleviate the problem. 

“Police are over here trying to break up the camps, and the housing people are over here trying to house those camps at the same time,” John said.

Oklahoma Watch, at oklahomawatch.org, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that covers public-policy issues facing the state.



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Oklahoma

Oklahoma open primary proposal gets mixed reaction • Oklahoma Voice

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Oklahoma open primary proposal gets mixed reaction • Oklahoma Voice


OKLAHOMA CITY – A proposal to open Oklahoma primaries is drawing criticism.

Earlier this week, supporters announced State Question 835 that seeks to obtain 172,993 signatures to get the issue on the November 2026 ballot.

Under the proposal, Oklahoma primaries would be open to all voters with the top two vote getters advancing to the general election.

Supporters said they expect a challenge to the measure.

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Gov. Kevin Stitt on social media voiced his opposition.

“Oklahomans made decisions at the polls that these third party groups don’t like – so now they want to upend the way we run our elections,” Stitt said. “Open primaries are a hard no in Oklahoma.”

Likewise, Lt. Gov Matt Pinnell, former Oklahoma Republican Party chairman, opposes the proposal.

“At best, the push to mandate open primaries is a solution in search of a problem, and at worst, it is a thinly veiled attempt to weaken Republican voters in choosing the nominees to represent our party,” Pinnell said. “Oklahoma is a conservative state, and Republicans hold all the statewide and federally elected positions and super majorities in the Legislature for a simple reason: our values and principles represent the will of our state voters.”

But not all Republicans have panned the idea.

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Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, a former Republican state senator, embraced it.

He said the system in which a mayor is elected allows all residents to vote.

“Our voters get to see all the candidates and our candidates have to face all voters,” Holt said. “As a result, our leadership delivers unity and consensus outcomes that are clearly moving us forward.”

The state question is being backed by Oklahoma United, a nonpartisan organization that says the change will increase voter participation, reduce polarization and force candidates to be responsive to all voters. It will also benefit independent voters, who can’t vote in Republican or Libertarian primaries. Democrats currently allow independents to vote in their primaries.

The idea is not new.

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In 2017, the Oklahoma Academy recommended a top-two election system. Its report said a top-two system could increase turnout, reduce partisanship and “eliminate fringe special interest involvement in campaigns because candidates would be forced to respond to more moderate, general voters rather than play to the extremes of either party.”

The Oklahoma Academy is a nonpartisan group that works to educate Oklahomans about public policy.

Republican political consultant Fount Holland said he doubted Oklahoma voters would approve the proposal should it make the ballot.

“At the end of the day, it is about moderating the Republican primary,” Holland said.

He said the Republican Party takes things to the extreme, which is not the best way to govern.

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Holland said no one enters the Republican primary as a moderate or very few can survive campaigning as a moderate.

“They might be moderate, but they don’t campaign that way,” Holland said.

He said he tells his clients to run to win.

If approved, the measure would be advantageous to Democrats or people who want a more moderate group of elected officials, Holland said.

Republican Superintendent Ryan Walters is considered by many to be ultra-conservative, while his predecessor Joy Hofmeister was considered a moderate member of the GOP, said Holland, who worked on her two successful races for superintendent. 

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Walters has focussed on putting Bibles in the classroom and removing some books from schools, while Hofmeister prioritized across-the-board teacher pay increases and boosting counseling services in schools.

Hofmeister ultimately switched parties and made an unsuccessful run as a Democrat for governor.

“If you hate politics the way they are, then you need to be on our team, because we want to change it and we want to make it better,” said Margaret Kobos, Oklahoma United CEO and Founder.

She was asked about the partisan reaction to the proposal.

She said it misses the point because the issue is about people and not political parties.

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Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Del City, supports the measure, saying it takes power away from the political parties and gives it to the people.

“Every voter. Every election,” he said. “That is the way democracy is supposed to work.”

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Oklahoma initiative kicks off by training librarians to help with telehealth visits

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Oklahoma initiative kicks off by training librarians to help with telehealth visits


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Oklahomans living in areas with limited internet access soon will be able to receive help with virtual doctor’s appointments at their local library.

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An initiative from Arkansas-based Heartland Forward, a “policy think-and-do tank,” and a grant from the James M. Cox Foundation is making this possible.

Here’s what we know.

Librarians receiving training on supporting telehealth visits

With the help of a $25,000 grant from the James M. Cox Foundation, the nonprofit and philanthropic arm of Cox Enterprises, Oklahoma librarians will be trained on accessing and preparing for a telehealth appointment using the Telehealth DigitalLearn module, according to a news release.

Librarians can then use the module, which was funded by the Ford Foundation, to help community members learn more about telehealth.

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Why Heartland Forward is targeting Oklahoma, Arkansas for telehealth access

According to the latest benchmark from the Federal Communications Commission, broadband or high-speed internet is defined as receiving 100/20 mbps download and upload speeds.

The latest FCC broadband map shows just over 91% of Oklahoma homes and businesses are covered by broadband, not including satellite technology, which Engagement Director Nicholas Camper, with the Oklahoma Broadband Office, said amounts to about 450,000 Oklahomans without high-speed internet access.

According to the Oklahoma Broadband Office’s interactive map, there are more than 100,000 locations in Oklahoma that could receive broadband that have not, and more than 80,000 locations that are underserved.

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In addition, a Heartland Forward study found that 25% of counties surveyed in the region had a population-to-primary care physician ratio more than double the U.S. average. Telehealth can help bridge this gap, but only for those with access to the internet.

The new initiative will allow libraries to connect Oklahomans to “critical health services,” Education Secretary Nellie Sanders said in the news release.

“Libraries are often the first place community members turn to for resources and support, especially in areas where healthcare access can be limited,” Natalie Currie, director of the Oklahoma Department of Libraries, said in the release. “By training librarians to help Oklahomans navigate telehealth technology, we’re opening doors to essential healthcare services and enhancing the well-being of our communities.”



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Oklahoma vs Alabama injury report: Initial updates, news for Week 13

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Oklahoma vs Alabama injury report: Initial updates, news for Week 13


Injuries have plagued the Oklahoma Sooners during the 2024 season. It’s been an unfortunate reality for Brent Venables and his staff, particularly on the offensive side of the football.

With a pivotal game coming this week in Norman against the Alabama Crimson Tide, the Sooners are hoping for any sort of positive news on the injury front. Oklahoma looks like they’ll get one of their key offensive linemen back this week, Michael Tarquin. That should help provide better protection for quarterback Jackson Arnold.

Here’s a look at Wednesday’s initial injury report.

Oklahoma injury report

Player Position Status 11/20
Jayden Gibson WR OUT
Gentry Williams DB OUT
Geirean Hatchett OL OUT
Nic Anderson WR OUT
Kendel Dolby DB OUT
Andrel Anthony WR OUT
Jacob Sexton OL OUT
Jake Taylor OL OUT
Deion Burks WR Doubtful
Jovantae Barnes RB Questionable
Joshua Bates OL Questionable

 Alabama injury report

Player Position Status 11/20
Keon Sabb DB OUT
Cole Adams WR OUT
Quandarrius Robinson LB OUT

Michael Tarquin injury update

After missing Oklahoma’s last two games against Maine and Missouri, it looks like starting tackle Michael Tarquin will be back in action this week after not landing on the initial injury report. Now, the question becomes, does he take over at right or left tackle?

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Deion Burks injury update

Deion Burks was concussed late in the Sooners’ loss to Missouri. He had been out of action since the Tennessee game and looks like he’ll be unavailable this week against Alabama.

Jovantae Barnes injury update

Jovantae Barnes sprained his ankle during his 200-yard effort against Maine and was forced to miss the game against Missouri. Though listed as questionable for this week, he’s had two weeks to rest. Depending on how severe the initial injury was, he could be back in action this week.

Gavin Sawchuk injury update

Running back Gavin Sawchuk was off the injury report for Oklahoma’s game against Missouri but didn’t play. Instead it was Taylor Tatum, Xavier Robinson, and Sam Franklin getting the running back snaps. Could Sawchuk be available this week to help the Sooners rushing attack?

Joshua Bates injury update

Joshua Bates missed the game against Missouri with an undisclosed injury. Troy Everett has solidified the center position for the Sooners but you would like to have some depth available.



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