Key to Home Spends $1,500 Per Person to End Homelessness in Oklahoma City
A local coalition’s early intervention program helped 303 residents secure housing in its first year by covering small, immediate costs like bus fares and deposits.
By Jenna Mitchell ·
An average cost of $1,500 per client is the price tag for keeping hundreds of Oklahoma City residents off the streets, according to data released by the Key to Home Partnership. The network of nearly 50 local agencies launched an Early Intervention and Rapid Exit pilot last year, and it assisted 303 people in leaving homelessness within the first 12 months. Program leaders report the initiative is currently scaling to help at least 400 additional individuals before the fiscal year concludes, a target they expect to exceed.
The strategy targets a specific gap in the local support system. Jamie Caves, the partnership’s strategy implementation manager, explained that the program serves individuals who do not require long-term case management but face immediate, solvable barriers to stable housing. By borrowing diversion tactics used in other cities, the coalition intervenes before these small financial obstacles escalate into chronic homelessness. This approach aims to clear barriers within roughly 30 days, although clients currently receive assistance for an average of 40 days.
Caseworkers address precise, short-term needs that keep people from moving into units or reconnecting with support networks. Jennifer Kill, who oversees Key to Home programs at Catholic Charities, noted that some participants have steady incomes but lack move-in funds, while others have relatives willing to host them but cannot cover travel expenses. Typical supports include one-time payments for security deposits, transportation, groceries, and basic communication tools. Family reunification has emerged as a frequent and effective solution, often involving participants returning to relatives outside the city.
The financial model combines municipal support for staff with private donations used for flexible aid. The program caps flexible assistance at $1,200 per person from donations. To increase access, the partnership is adding three enrollment specialists at shelters and other access points, doubling the number of staff who can sign people up quickly. Partners already implementing the initiative include Catholic Charities, City Care, City Rescue Mission, Heartline, Homeless Alliance, Pivot, the Salvation Army, and Sisu Youth Services.
The program’s impact extends beyond individual outcomes to system-wide efficiency. Key to Home leaders state that early intervention reduces pressure on emergency shelters and preserves intensive housing supports for people with complex needs. The partnership tracks post-exit stability and reports that only about 5% of those who left for stable housing returned to the homelessness response system over the last year. Caves noted the partnership is working toward a five-year vision where every access point across the city has the capacity to respond immediately. "We’re aiming to make early intervention available wherever someone first seeks help," she said.
