TULSA, OK – Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt’s Operation SAFE kicked off in early September 2025 to clear out homeless encampments and relocate homeless individuals toward treatment or jail. However, Tulsa County Jail hasn’t seen a single person enter under this initiative. As documented by Oklahoma.gov, the program was implemented to give homeless people stopped by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol a choice: supportive housing or detention centers.

A Tulsa County Criminal Justice Authority (TCCJA) board meeting occurred Sept. 24, where officials reviewed the budget and operations at the Tulsa County Jail. Jail Administrator Stacie Holloway confirmed that no homeless individuals have been admitted under Gov. Stitt’s Project SAFE to her knowledge, adding that the facility is not at capacity. Oklahoma Highway Patrol was contacted, but referred the questions to Gov. Stitt.

Upon reaching out to Gov. Stitt’s office, the receptionist assures “facilities all across the state were being put to use”, including treatment facilities, shelters and jails. Once alerted that no one had been admitted to the Tulsa County Jail, she expressed similar concern – promising to escalate this information to the governor.

To dig deeper, more contacts were made: CREOKS Behavioral Health Services, the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS), Tulsa Day Center, and John 3:16 Mission to learn where the homeless have been relocated.

CREOKS and ODMHSAS were unclear – calls were left unanswered or would end abruptly. One receptionist cited HIPAA privacy rules before disconnecting the call, despite clarification that statistical information isn’t protected under HIPAA.

A representative from John 3:16 returned the call promptly and openly. He stated their shelter has “been at max capacity for years”, predating Project SAFE, but they prioritize newcomers with reserved beds as they strive to help long-term residents transition to stability. They noted a slight uptick in needs since Project SAFE’s implementation, but said the impact was milder than expected.

The Tulsa Day Center also confirmed they observed a slight increase in the two days following Project SAFE’s implementation but stated they haven’t seen any increase since that time.

With stonewalled responses and sparse details, one burning question lingers: Where exactly are Tulsa’s homeless individuals being housed under Project SAFE? Stay tuned as more answers are pursued. 

#ProjectSAFE #TulsaHomelessCrisis