Gov. Stitt announces Operation SAFE in Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - Oklahoma Governor Stitt announced on Monday, Operation SAFE is now scheduled to begin in Oklahoma City.

Operation SAFE, which began in Tulsa, is the state’s initiative to restore safety clean debris from state-owned property led by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) and Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT).

“After the success of Operation SAFE in Tulsa, business leaders and stakeholders quickly requested the state to do the same here in Oklahoma City,” said Gov. Stitt. “We are partnering with Key to Home, an Oklahoma City-based public/private partnership, to connect those individuals we move from state property to services and housing. The state is doing its job, and just like in Tulsa, it’s the role of the city and non-profits to ensure Oklahoma City stays clean and safe for all residents."

Key to Home Partnership is expected to lead the unified city response with an expedited six-week timeline assisting more than 50 public, private, and nonprofit partners working together to bring outreach teams directly into encampments, connecting Oklahomans in need to shelter, treatment, and housing.

“We’ve worked hard to coordinate efforts more effectively and create a streamlined pathway to restoration for our neighbors who are sleeping outside,” said Jamie Caves, Homeless Strategy Implementation Manager for the Key to Home Partnership. “When the State approached us about addressing encampments on State property, the program was already in place to offer a quick, effective, and dignified solution.”