TULSA, Okla. — The Tulsa Day Center, a non-profit that is working to end homelessness in Tulsa, says they have seen 55 deaths for the year, which more than ever before.
In 2020, a little more than 40 deaths were reported. 2019, had a total of 38.
Mack Halton, the director of the Tulsa Day Center, said it is hard to pinpoint the cause of the increase of deaths in the homeless community in Tulsa.
He believes the severe cold weather in Feb. 2021 and the pandemic are factors as the Day Center had to limit capacity to just 70 people. Halton says he fears February’s freeze could have made things so much worse, had other non-profits and community members not stepped in to help. Organizations like the Salvation Army and were also limited on their capacity because of the pandemic so Halton says it was a true group effort.
The Tulsa Day Center is planning on bringing in more staff for the freezing cold days ahead. And the outreach is working to shelter more people while adhering to COVID safety guidelines.
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