Beyond finding a home: Tulsa nonprofit on supporting people after homelessness
TULSA, Okla. – For Chelsey Kirby, finding someone a home is only the beginning. As Director of Neighbor Wellness with theCity Lights Foundation in Tulsa, she and her team stay connected with roughly 65 to 70 people who have experienced homelessness, mailing out cards on birthdays and checking in when apartment maintenance issues arise. Most of these neighbors have been with the program since City Lights set up a hotel for the homeless during the pandemic.
Kirby says that continued support can make the difference between someone staying housed and ending up back on the street. Her relationship with Charles Howard Dilley, who turns 65 this month, is a good example. Charlie lived on the streets for about a decade, but found permanent housing for him and his chihuahua, Half Pipe, last December.
What does your job look like day to day?
Chelsey Kirby: It can look really different depending on the neighbor. Some of our neighbors we walk through end-of-life stuff with, so for each person, stability looks completely different…