‘Not solving any problem’: OKC’s Homeless Alliance, lawmakers question bill to restrict homelessness shelter zoning

This week, the Senate cleared a controversial bill restricting where homeless shelters can be built. The Homeless Alliance’s top leader warned the bill could cause more harm than good. 

Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman, wanted communities smaller than Tulsa and OKC to keep new homeless shelters at least 3,000 feet away from schools. Standridge argued it protects children – but Homeless Alliance CEO Meghan Mueller said the measure sent an unproductive message. Standridge's bill drew many questions from democrats and republicans on the Senate floor Tuesday afternoon. 

“Are we creating more burdens for families who are experiencing homelessness?” asked Sen. Carri Hicks, D-OKC. 

Sen. Paul Rosino, R-OKC, questioned the state’s authority to overstep local city government leaders. 

“Are we taking local control away from the local elected officials that would deal with this issue?” Rosino asked. 

Standridge said a member of her community raised safety concerns related to shelters and a school in her Norman district.  

“When you have a non-profit that is distributing drug paraphernalia to homeless shelters, you want to keep that behavior away from a school,” Standridge told lawmakers on Tuesday. 

Mueller refuted that claim. 

“I don’t know of any shelter that is handing out drug paraphernalia,” Standridge said. 

Sen. Nikki Nice, D-OKC, pressed Standridge on whether she spoke to leadership with homeless outreach organizations or experts in the field. Standridge said she had not.  

News 9 asked Mueller about Standridge's claim about clean needles being offered by nonprofits. Mueller said that part is true, but they don't hand out actual drugs. The clean needles are part of a practice called “harm reduction.” 

Mueller said people suffering from addiction cannot quit drugs instantaneously without withdrawals. Some nonprofits will provide clean needles to prevent deadly diseases from spreading. 

“It’s the idea of reducing harm,” Mueller said. “We’re making potentially risky behaviors safer.” 

Mueller said these practices don't promote drug use - they buy time while they get people into housing and treatment. 

“It’s really hard for a person to become sober or address mental health concerns while they’re living on the streets,” Mueller said. “The buffer zone is effectively a ban. We are banning our neighbors from existing.” 

Mueller said this restriction pushes people away from resources to the fringes of city limits. 

“It would just make access prohibitively difficult,” Mueller said. “These are people. These are children."

The measure outpaces other zoning laws and proximity restrictions. Convicted sex offenders are required to live at least 2,000 feet away from schools.  

“It’s stricter than dispensary and liquor store buffer zones,” Mueller said. 

Mueller said she saw many flaws with the bill and heard an inconsistent message. 

"Moving someone to a different part of town – that's not solving any problem,” Mueller said. “The message is, 'these neighbors aren’t welcome here.'” 

She said safety can't be the focus when other lives are put at risk. 

“It’s kinda kicking people when they’re down,” Mueller said. 

Mueller said homelessness can be solved when communities welcome everyone with open arms. 

“The way that we end homelessness is by helping people find their way home,” Mueller said. 

Mueller said more than 23,000 Oklahoma children are homeless and require close access to shelters. Standridge told lawmakers this bill wouldn’t impact current shelters.  

News 9 contacted Standridge’s office for a comment on this story but did not hear back by the Friday 11 p.m. news deadline. SB 484 will head to the House for consideration.