TULSA — The city of Tulsa, Community Service Council and other agencies are looking for a way to put an end to homelessness altogether.
Over the last 10 years, the city estimates the homeless population has grown by seven percent and bring the total up to almost 6,000.
Now they are looking for "A Way Home" for each of them.
Thursday, 300 people from 150 nonprofits and companies met to start coming up with a solution.
"When you have an issue that is that complex, it requires a lot of great minds at the table focused on it," Mayor G.T. Bynum said.
Leaders of A Way Home know there is not one easy solution to putting an end to homelessness. It is going to take addressing different barriers like affordable housing, becoming self-sufficient income-wise and looking at other complex challenges these people face.
"Housing isn't the only thing that creates homelessness," Denise Reid with Key Personnel said.
The leaders that met today discussed with people at their table what they can personally commit to doing to put an end to the nationwide problem rearing its head in Tulsa. What they agreed on is collaboration between everyone in Tulsa is key.
"I've come to the realization that it's going to take more than just the non-profit industry to address the issue, so we are calling on all Tulsans," Dan Eslicker, President of the Board of Directors for the Day Center for the Homeless, said.
A committee for A Way Home will take all of the priorities and strategies discussed today and try to put feasible ones into play as soon as possible.
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