- The state of Oklahoma spent nearly $900,000 last year to clear homeless encampments in its largest cities, with over $375,000 spent in Oklahoma City and $523,000 in Tulsa.
OKLAHOMA CITY — The state spent nearly $900,000 to clear homeless encampments in Oklahoma’s largest cities last year, according to letters sent by the state’s chief operating officer.
Nearly identical letters were sent Monday to the chiefs of the Oklahoma City and Tulsa police departments warning that the state spent over $375,000 and $523,000, respectively, to clear a homeless encampment on state property in each city. The encampments were cleared as part of Operation SAFE, a program announced in September by Gov. Kevin Stitt to clear state property using state resources and troopers with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
While the letters penned by Chief Operating Officer David Ostrowe don’t demand immediate payments, it warns the state will attempt to pass legislation to recover costs for any past, present or future homeless encampment cleanups conducted by the state…