Oklahoma City's Homeless Population Down 12 Percent

The Homeless Alliance is celebrating some encouraging numbers.

The alliance reported there are less people being forced to survive out on the streets compared to last year.

Across the country, homelessness is down about 1 percent, according to the Homeless Alliance.

In OKC, it’s dropped nearly 12 percent from last year, according to the latest homeless count.

“It’s definitely good news for the city,” said Homeless Alliance Executive Director Dan Straughan.

Straughan said chronic homelessness, those on and off the streets, is down 31 percent over the last two years.

“I got me a little place I can call my own,” said Aaron Cotton.

Cotton benefited from a push that started two years to ago to find homes for the homeless immediately and regardless of issues like substance abuse.

Straughan said he’s now trying to better educate landlords who are leery of opening their doors to the city’s 1,300 who don’t have a home.

“The get guaranteed rent payment, you don’t have to worry about someone not paying the rent because we are using systems to the pay the rent,” Straughan said about the help being offered.

Since the OKC rental market is very competitive, Straughan said he knows of dozens of homeless people that have vouchers but can’t find a place to live.

The Homeless Alliance said another one of its goals is finding homes for the city's 125 homeless veterans by the end of this year.