New Partnership Helps Newly Housed Residents Stay On Their Feet

Family and Children’s Services and the Mental Health Association of Oklahoma are coming together to help newly housed residents stay on their feet. The new partnership is scheduled to begin this week and will put workers on the ground to help people who are starting a new life after being homeless.

Leaders say finding a home after living on the street is just the first step. Workers from Family and Children’s Services and the MHA will visit different apartment complexes owned by the MHA to provide residents assistance with food, clothing, employment, transportation and other basic needs.

Mark Davis with the MHA said by not letting anyone slip through the cracks, they can help people in the long run instead of providing a temporary solution.

“To have that extra support from a critically important partnering agency such as Family and Children’s Services is truly incredible and tremendous,” Davis said. “So this collaboration will directly strike to the heart and the needs of the people in the community and we couldn’t be more thrilled.”

Family and Children’s Services Kathy Loehr said that by staying in these people’s lives for longer than the initial time needed to house them, they can make a lasting difference both on their mental and physical health.

“Sometimes they think they are good and don’t need support and sometimes we’ve found over the years clients return to homelessness it didn’t work out the supports didn't stay in place like we hoped. We see them again and they are homeless,” Loehr said.

Leaders say they plan on getting out to start visiting residents this week unless the weather gets bad. They say, in that case, they will begin the program kickoff next week.

If you would like to speak to someone about getting housing or mental health help, you can do so by visiting either organization’s website or giving them a call.

Click Here to visit the Mental Health Association of Oklahoma's website or call at (918)-585-1213.

Click Here to visit the Family and Children’s Services website or call at (918)-587-9471.