Overnight winter homeless shelter opens
For the last few months of winter, people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Oklahoma City will be able to stay in a new overnight shelter.
The emergency winter shelter opened Friday at the former Willard School, 1400 NW 3 St., west of downtown.
The shelter has 109 cots available to men, women and families every night through March 31, said Dan Straughan, director of the Homeless Alliance. Bed capacity can be expanded if needed.
“It's literally lifesaving,” Straughan said. “It's been a rough winter so far, and we've got two and a half months left to endure. Having this open, we'll never know exactly how many lives it saves, but I guarantee you, it will.”
Other than a security check upon arrival, t here are no requirements for individuals to stay in the shelter, making it a low-barrier facility.
Individuals will receive a blanket and have the option to store their belongings overnight. Restrooms and showers are on site, as well.
Three Homeless Alliance staffers and private security will operate the building nightly from 4 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Personal protective equipment will be available and the shelter will have a quarantine ward for anyone who doesn't feel well.
“We're trying to allow as many people in as possible as long as they aren't disruptive,” said Greg Shinn, director of Mental Health Association Oklahoma.
The Mental Health Association collaborated with the Homeless Alliance and the city to upgrade the school, which has been closed for about a decade. The building has new
plumbing, heating and air, security and electrical work.
"It's nothing fancy, but it is safe and warm," Shinn said.
Typically, the shelter system in Oklahoma City has 900 beds, but social distancing needed to stop the spread of COVID-19 forced that number to drop to 600.
Now, more people are sleeping outside, unsheltered from the weather.
The hope is this temporary shelter, along with overflow beds during freezing nights hosted by the Homeless Alliance's day shelter and the opening of the long-awaited City Care night shelter, will fill gaps left by the pandemic.
“Hopefully, this will get us through the winter,” Straughan said.
The Oklahoma City Council voted una nimously earlier this month to approve the shelter.
Some business owners and neighbors in the area are unhappy, but advocates say the shelter is close to other homeless service providers and will get these individuals into safe shelter instead of out on the streets at night. Staff writer Kayla Branch covers Oklahoma County government, homelessness and poverty for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea or comment for Kayla? She can be reached at kbranch@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @ kayla_branch. Support Kayla's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at oklahoman.com/subscribe.