Oklahoma’s Homeless Shelter Bill Faces Backlash from Advocates

Oklahoma’s proposed legislation aimed at restricting the placement of homeless shelters has drawn significant criticism from community advocates. Senate Bill 484 seeks to prohibit the establishment of new shelters within 3,000 feet of schools or school properties across most of the state. Critics argue that the restrictions, while ostensibly targeting registered sex offenders, could exacerbate challenges for families experiencing homelessness.

Advocates assert that the bill, which is expected to be reviewed by the House when lawmakers reconvene in February 2025, will inadvertently harm vulnerable families. Kori Hall, chief programs officer for City Care, an Oklahoma City-based organization supporting the homeless, emphasized that many individuals using shelters are families with children. Hall noted, “Children need to be able to have access to shelters and also to school. So creating that distance barrier can kind of be a barrier for them to receive both of the services that they need.”

Hall highlighted the partnership between schools and shelters, stating that her organization is located less than half a mile from three elementary schools. “Those schools partner with us because people staying in our shelter have kids who go to their schools,” she explained. “It’s actually a benefit for them to have those families close because it ensures that their kids can go to school and not have truancy.”

The proposed legislation would apply to all Oklahoma cities with populations under 300,000. Only Oklahoma City and Tulsa exceed this threshold. Existing shelters for the homeless, victims of domestic violence, and youth, as well as those operating within places of worship, would be exempt from the restrictions.

According to the 2024 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report released by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, approximately 5,467 individuals experienced homelessness in Oklahoma in 2024, marking a 17.6% increase from the previous year. Among these, 1,060 were families with children, and 450 were unaccompanied youth.

The bill’s author, State Senator Lisa Standridge of Norman, did not provide comments for this article but previously stated in January 2025 that the legislation aims to enhance public safety. Standridge has expressed concerns about the homeless situation in her town, describing it as a “Dumpster fire” and suggesting that the public safety of Norman is at risk.

Local officials are also voicing their concerns regarding the bill. Norman Mayor Stephen Tyler Holman criticized the measure as “arbitrary, capricious, potentially discriminatory,” particularly because it exempts the larger cities. Holman stated, “It obviously doesn’t really address or solve the issue of homelessness at all. And it aims to take away the ability for local residents to decide for what we think is best for our own communities.”

Cleveland County, where Norman is located, reported a 12.7% increase in homelessness in 2024 compared to the previous year, as per the 2024 Point in Time Count, an annual census of individuals experiencing homelessness. Holman suggested that lawmakers should focus on improving mental health services and addressing housing shortages, which could help prevent homelessness.

Alissa Gilmore, program director and treasurer of the Micah Community Movement, expressed skepticism regarding the efficacy of Standridge’s bill. She argued that systemic issues contribute to homelessness and that the solution lies in increasing access to mental health care and affordable treatment for substance use disorders. “Those are things that help to solve homelessness, not just move it around,” she said. “This kind of bill does nothing to solve homelessness. It basically just moves it around.”

This article has been produced through a collaboration between Oklahoma Voice and the University of Central Oklahoma’s journalism program. For more information, visit Oklahoma Voice online at Oklahomavoice.com.