Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency & Partners Launch Emergency Housing Program

A new program is providing emergency housing for people fleeing dangerous situations.

Applicants not only get housing, but they also get access to health care, clothing nand anything else they may need to start over.

“This program is something that has been needed for quite a while and unfortunately until this program was offered, we didn’t really have an emergency housing program,” said Holley Mangham, with the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency.

With funding from the latest federal COVID-19 relief, the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency has 300 emergency housing vouchers. 

“We really want this program to help people who are most in need,” she said.

Oklahomans who are facing homelessness, fleeing domestic violence or human trafficking are encouraged to apply.

“Call one of our partnering agencies, visit with them, and then go through the application process,” said Mangham.

OHFA then works with landlords to place them in a home. The state said the process only takes a couple of weeks.

“Which is significantly less than some of our other rental housing programs that have more steps to go through. We recognize the necessity of getting people in crisis situations housed as quickly as possible,” she said.

Holley Mangham said landlords play a pivotal role in the program. They sign up to provide the housing and in return they receive a stipend from OHFA.

“We are offering a $350 stipend to help incentivize them to go through that process,” she said.

The U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development put aside $5 billion nationwide for the program.

The state of Oklahoma has an initial $1.7 million dollars for the vouchers. If the state needs more money, they can ask for more.

As of Monday, around 200 people are in the process of applying for the program. Once 300 are housed, the state will open a waitlist.

For a list of community partners and their contact information click here.