Recently Oklahoma Senate Bill 484 was proposed by Sen. Lisa Standridge (R-Norman), and would ban any Oklahoma municipality under 300,000 in population from using public monies to operate homeless shelters or to provide a homeless outreach (Spencer Humphrey, “One Oklahoma Senator Aims to Ban All But Two Cities from Providing Homeless Shelters, Homeless Outreach,” KFOR, January 15, 2025).
This ill-advised legal measure prompts many questions. Why? How is this helpful in addressing address Oklahoma’s homeless population? Wouldn’t “banning” aid to homeless people in cities and towns under 300,000 residents only push needy people to resettle in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, where resources are already strained? Does anyone choose to be homeless? Is it my moral responsibility to help others? Do I know anyone who is homeless? Would anyone homeless want to know me? Why wouldn’t they want to know me?
It is quite possible each of us has at least seen someone who is homeless. In one year, the homeless rate rose 18% from January 2023 to January 2024. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) counted 770,000 people experiencing homelessness. The number comes from the Annual Homelessness Assessment. In these numbers are 150,000 children (Demsi Maher, “The Number of Homeless People in the U.S. Has Increased,” December 30, 2024, http://www.usnews.com ).
These numbers, of course, are not constant from state to state or from city to city. Oklahoma City held an annual Point in Time Count on January 25, 2024. In this year in Oklahoma City, 1,838 people on this given night had no place to call home, an increase of 402 people from the previous year (“Point in Time Report,” January 25,2024, http://www.okc. gov) .
The count also revealed that 7% are veterans, 17% are families with children, 36% are female, 62% are male, 2% are transgender, 45% are white, 35% are black, 9% are Native Americans, and 9% are youth alone aged twenty-four or younger, 20% report mental illness, 24% are “chronically unsheltered,” 62% stay in shelters, 13% are in transitional housing. 24% are in sheltered, and 1% are in safe havens. In Oklahoma City Public Schools, 1,952 students were homeless for the 2021-2022 school year (http://www.homelessalliance. org ).
Homelessness does not just happen. Several factors may lead a person or an entire family to life on the streets. The lack of affordable housing and the limited scale of housing assistance programs are two major causes for financial ruin. Nationally, it would require a worker making $25.82 per hour to afford a two-bedroom apartment. A one-bedroom apartment would only be possible if the worker earned $21.21 per hour. The national minimum hourly wage is currently $7.25 (http://www.nationalhomeless. org ).
Above-minimum-wage workers also struggle to keep a home. Customer service workers make $17.75, nurse assistants make $14.57, maintenance/ repair people make $20.75, home health aids make $14.15, and retail workers make $14.03. Paychecks only stretch so far to also afford food, childcare, health care, and education. Sometimes the housing must be forfeited ( http://www. nationalhomeless.org ).
The National Coalition for the Homeless stated in its report that “If you are poor, you are essentially an illness, an accident, or a paycheck from living on the street” (http:// www.nationalhomeless.org ). Complicating the struggle is a lack of employment opportunities that would support a living, a decline in public assistance, less affordable health care, domestic violence, mental illness, and addiction (http://www.nationalhomeless. org ).
A sign at a peaceful demonstration protesting the increase in criminalizing the homeless read, “People need a rest; not arrest”( http://www.nationalhomeless. org ). Oklahoma’s SB 484, if passed into law, would criminalize a segment of society by denying them the mere necessities of life. The government to whom they are citizens and to whom they pay taxes would deny their civil rights.
Criminalization is any action by the government at any level that involves “measures that prohibit life-sustaining activities such as sleeping, camping, eating, sitting, and/or asking for money or resources in public places” (http://www.nationalhomelessness. org ).During “sweep” raids, personal property such as bedding or medicine is confiscated. What little they have is taken under the guise of “quality of life” ordinances for public activity and hygiene (http://www.nationalhomelessness. org ).
Meghan Mueller, CEO of Homeless Alliance, reminds us that “…Moving a problem is different from solving a problem” (http://www.homealliance. org ). SB 484 is currently under review in the Oklahoma State Senate by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee (http://www.okdemicrats. org ). If passed, where will the lawmakers stop? Already citizens, not affiliated with government, are being arrested and warned against feeding someone who is hungry.
Chris Avell, pastor of Dad’s Place in Bryan, Ohio, has been arrested for violating city zoning laws. On a night of freezing weather, the homeless shelter adjacent to the church was overflowing with those seeking refuge. Pastor Avell offered the church building for the extra people needing warmth (Andrew Stanton, “Pastor Charged with Housing Homeless in Church Sparks Fury,” January 24, 2024, http:www.newsweek. com).
The charity Food Not Bombs in Houston, Texas, had been feeding the homeless since 1994. Because the volunteers gave food outside the Houston Public Library, a public space, without prior permission, members have been fined $80,000.00 (Michael Sainato, “Houston Volunteers Face Thousands in Fines for Feeding Homeless,” August 4, 2023, http://www.the guardian. com).
I am not naïve to the challenges business owners and managers face with homeless populations near their businesses. Transient traffic affects employees’ and customers’ feelings of safety. The trash generated, blocking of entrances and parking, and cases of erratic behavior are liability issues. But with no public shelters and assistance, and with private aid groups being threatened with fines and arrest for breaking city ordinances, where will the homeless go for help? (Justin Williams, “Why Anti-homeless Laws,” October 17, 2022, http:// www.losspreventionmedia. com).
Despite this moral conundrum, there are some answers to the correctness of OK SB 484. Do people choose to be homeless? Considering the factors contributing to homelessness, it seems no one intentionally chooses life on the street.
Is it my moral responsibility to help others? Yes. Because I am a Christian, I turn to the Bible for moral guidance. Old Testament passages are quite clear on God’s commands (not suggestions) to help the poor. King Solomon’s proverb advises, “Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God” (Proverbs 14:31, NIV, http://www. youversion.org).
The New Testament echoes the command to help those who are unfortunate. “John answered, ‘Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same’” (Luke 3:11, NIV, http:// www.youversion.org).
Do I know anyone who is homeless? Yes. A young woman I have recently met is homeless. She has a job and is saving for an apartment to rent. Where does she sleep? In her car, even on sub-freezing nights. Each night she chooses a different place to park for safety. Is she homeless? Yes. Is she a criminal? No.
Perhaps Sen. Lisa Standridge (and more of us) should get to know someone who is homeless. Listen to their stories. How did they become homeless? How else can we see people with different lives as more like ourselves than not? How else will we see humanity in those who are different than we are?
The last two questions may be answered with surprising answers. Would a homeless person want to know me? Why wouldn’t they want to know me and all I represent?