Oklahoma sees increase in homeless families
The Associated Press - December 8, 2017 12:13 pm
Lauren Dow with the Homeless Alliance conducts an interview at a tent as volunteers conduct their annual census of the city's homeless population in Oklahoma City, Okla. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – A federal report shows that Oklahoma has seen an increase in homelessness for the second year in a row, particularly in families with children.
The Oklahoman reports that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress was released Thursday.
The report tallied nearly 4,200 homeless people on a single night in January, with a nearly 24 percent increase in homeless families with children compared to the previous year.
Dan Straughan is executive director of the nonprofit Homeless Alliance. He says the increase is spurred by a lack of affordable housing and federal funds.
The report says that despite the overall increase, the state has seen improvements in housing homeless veterans and chronically homeless people.
