OKC Homelessness Outreach Teams Helping People Seeking Shelter In Storm Drains

Oklahoma City first responders have noticed people seeking shelter in storm drains. Earlier this week, OKC firefighters rescued a woman from a flooded drain. 

People will seek shelter in storm drains because they provide security. However, city homeless leaders work daily to give these people another option. 

Unlikely places can serve as a place to sleep. Unsheltered people will often seek out these areas to find peace.  

“They’re not harassed. They feel safer,” said Jamie Caves, spokesperson for Key to Home with the city. “They often get pushed from one site to another, to another. That’s just really challenging for them.” 

Storm drains present many dangers.  

“All the water funnels into that area,” Capt. John Chenoweth, with the Oklahoma City Fire Department. “Water can rise really quickly.” 

Caves leads a city effort to reach anyone without a home. 

“We wanna be sure that people aren’t living in those drains whenever possible,” Caves said. “Get them connected to services or help them relocate. Move them into housing with support services for twelve months to help them stabilize.” 

Since its launch last September, OKC’s Encampment Rehousing Initiative, as part of Key to Home, has housed 210 people.  

“We’re right on track to hit our goal of five hundred by the end of 2025,” Caves said. “That’s really exciting.” 

Caves said none of those people have reentered the homeless response system and people are healing. 

“We think the case management teams and the outreach teams is a true testament to the work that they’re doing in the community,” Caves said.  

Caves said people don’t have to risk their lives to find shelter. 

“It’s really important to us that people are safe,” Caves said. 

The city is working on a diversion program to address the prevention of homelessness. They will implement that effort by the end of the year. 

People can volunteer with organizations addressing this problem by visiting www.okc.gov/government/key-to-home