No room to rest for metro homeless

By Amy Lester, NEWS 9

Oklahoma City's population is on the rise, putting strain on the city's rescue mission.

As many as 2,000 people are homeless on any given day in the city, and the shelter's supply of beds is running low.

Every night, 100 homeless men sleep on the floor because the mission doesn't have any more bed space.

The city rescue mission's beds fill up every night, and the need for beds rises along with the percent of the homeless population. Every year, the count of those without a home increases three percent.

"These are precious people and they're somebody's brother or father or uncle, or served our military who are in need or need help," said Sue Lampton with the City Rescue Mission. "We want to be able to provide beds for them."

The mission's on a mission to raise $60,000 to renovate rooms, adding 100 beds.

The beds will replace mats and some dignity for the men staying there.

"I really thank God for this place," resident Clayton Jordan, Jr. said. "I'm extremely thankful for it."

Clayton Jordan, Jr. depends on the city rescue mission for a play to rest his head at the end of the night. He recently lost his home and job, and had nowhere else to turn.

"This place is really helping me get up on my feet, get started again," Jordan, Jr. said. "I am really, extremely thankful for it and if it can do that for me, it can do that for anyone."

According to Dan Straughan, the executive director of the Homeless Alliance, to truly curb homelessness, Oklahomans need more substance abuse and mental health treatment programs and low income housing.

"This is a community that does the right thing. We always have and it's not right to let our neighbors suffer on the streets of this community," Straughan said.

The city rescue mission secured $30,000 for the renovations and beds, and hope the community will help with the remaining $30,000 by May 15.