Oklahoma Children High Risk for Homelessness

By Jon Jordan, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A new report from the National Center on Family Homelessness shows thousands of children across our state are living on the brink of homelessness. The report puts Oklahoma at 47 out of 50 when it comes to the risk of children being homeless.

In fact, at the City Rescue Mission officials say in just the past year they have seen a 51 percent increase of women with children needing to stay at the mission.

One of those women is Stephanie McIver, a mother of two, who is starting to get her life turned around.

"Now I can go back to school as far as education, I can actively seek a job. There are a lot of opportunities outside these doors," McIver said.

But once she does walk out of the mission, the cards may be stacked against her, especially when the report by the National Center on Family Homeless highlights the state's minimum wage as an issue for children in Oklahoma at a greater risk of becoming homeless.

According to the report, it takes hourly wage of $11.69 to afford a two bedroom apartment, well above the state's minimum wage of $6.55.

"That is an issue we have to look at. We can provide minimal support of housing and we need to, but they're also going to have to afford to keep that housing long term," said Tom Jones, the CEO of City Rescue Mission.

The reason the mission believes the situation isn't worse is due to the support of family and friends, but they fear help is running out for these families.

"If those individuals that own a home like an aunt or grandparent, if their economic situation gets worse, then it's going to be difficult for them to allow people to stay in the home and that's when we are going to see an issue," said Jones.

Jones also hopes the state looks at more long term aid to financially struggling mothers, like providing better child care assistance.

As for the state's planning and policy efforts to address and end homelessness, the report classified the state's efforts as "inadequate."

"That to me is a flashing red light that says we must look at this and address the potential disaster," Jones said.