TULSA, Okla. — Housing Solutions Tulsa released homelessness trends and data in the annual point-in-time homeless study for 2023, with lack of affordable housing reported as the leading cause of homelessness in the city.
The study is completed during January every year, as a mandate from the U.S Department of Housing and Development (HUD).
According to the study, 44% of respondents said that a lack of affordable housing contributed to their homelessness with housing placement the most common need for support.
The Tulsa Housing Authority says the community must work together to face this issue.
“One of the best ways to increase access to affordable housing is for more landlords and property owners to accept Section 8 housing vouchers,” said Ginny Hensley, vice president of communications and public affairs at the Tulsa Housing Authority. “Our Section 8 waitlist is lengthy, and Tulsa is in desperate need of more voucher-accepting units throughout the city.”
The Section 8 program is a rental assistance program that provides low-income families with affordable housing through housing subsidies paid directly to participating landlords.