The Grace Center
of Southern Oklahoma
Building A Coalition for Positive Change
Ardmore Homeless Coalition
In Ardmore and across the country, homelessness is a complex and growing problem. As homelessness grew more visible in downtown Ardmore, the Grace Center of Southern Oklahoma Board of Directors launched the Ardmore Homeless Coalition with community partners and collaborators to address homelessness.
In the fall of 2020, there were three facilitated meetings with community partners. Leaders from government, business, faith, and social services were invited to participate in a guided conversation and discussion that result in a well-defined, written community action plan — one with practical approached to reducing and eliminating homelessness. The coalition's facilitator was Jerry Wright, who serves as Director of Consulting with the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits.
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Goal 1: Increase options for transportation
Objective: Provide access to services for the homeless to change lives
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Goal 2: Develop a central intake point for services
Objective: Provide access to services and to identify initial needs
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Goal 3: Develop plans for safe shelter and transitional living to meet current and future needs
Objective: Provide available shelter or living space when needed
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Goal 4: Raise awareness in the community regarding the challenges of homelessness
Objective: Gain support, educate, advocate, understand, communicate the plan, and be factual.
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If you would like to get involved with the Ardmore Homeless Coalition, please contact Linda Heitman, Executive Director of the Grace Center, at 580-223-3252 or director@ardmoregracecenter.com.
Mission
Providing dignity, safety, shelter, and healing to our homeless neighbors.
Vision
The community working together to provide solutions-based remedies to end homelessness.
Upcoming Meetings
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June 22:
The Ardmore Homeless Coalition's sub-committee on Goal 2 (known as the Central Intake Committee) will meet at 3 p.m. in-person at a location TBD.
The meeting will included a presentation by Unite Us / Unite Oklahoma on their coordinated care network.
July 14:
The Ardmore Homeless Coalition's sub-committee on shelter will meet at 3 p.m. in-person at the Grace Center's conference room, 11 A St. NW. The meeting will include discussion on identifying the shelter needs of Ardmore and how to build a plan to make a shelter program(s) possible.
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To learn more about meetings or to attend, please email Laura Akers at laura@ardmoregracecenter.com.
Participants in the Coalition
Faith Leaders:
Pastor Becky Jackson, Northwest Baptist
Pastor Ted Clark, Jr, Children of the King
John Gibbs, Merrick Drive Church of Christ
Joyce Spurgin, St. Philip’s Episcopal Church
Lee Miller, St. Philip’s Episcopal Church
AnDina Wiley, Christ Community Church
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Government:
Jessica Scott, City of Ardmore Community Development
Mayor Doug Pfau, City of Ardmore
Deputy Chief Kevin Norris, Ardmore Police Department
Fire Marshall Tim Lee, Ardmore Fire Department
Cary Williamson, Ardmore Fire Department
Kevin Boatright, City of Ardmore Asst. City Manager
Ty Reynolds, Carter County Health Dept.
Sumer Mosely, Carter County Health Dept.
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Business:
Meida Lockhart, SDG Architects
Jacob Tynes, Ideal Home Care
Mita Bates, Ardmore Chamber of Commerce
Marthanna Donald, Ardmore Chamber of Commerce
Jeff DiMiceli, Ardmore Main Street Authority
Teresa Deaton, OPM
Tom Dunlap, Triple D Oil & Gas Co.
Julie Longest, Downtown Business & Property Owner
Puddy Agans, Mercy Ardmore
Lorraine Acevedo-Cardona, Mercy Ardmore
Todd Yeager, Marvin's Place Art Gallery
Jennifer Evans, Triple D Oil & Gas Co.
Kermit McKinney, Triple D Oil & Gas Co.
Sara Jones, Valero
Laci Littleton-Gomez, I Sell Houses
Kori Littleton Thompson, I Sell Houses
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Foundations:
Larry Wilkes, McCrory Foundation
Mary Kate Wilson, Southern Oklahoma Memorial Foundation and Community Foundation of Ardmore, Inc.
Daela Echols, United Way of South Central Oklahoma
Stacy Newman, Noble Foundation
Social Services:
Dee Dee Hunter, Family Shelter of Southern Oklahoma
Kathy Manning, Family Shelter of Southern Oklahoma
Misty Apala, Impact Ardmore
Johnny Bruce, OUT
Kelli Brooks, Lighthouse Behavioral Wellness Centers
Jessica Pfau, Lighthouse Behavioral Wellness Centers
Dave Lowden, Broadway House
Crystal Douglas, Restoring Lives
Gerald Johnson, Catholic Charities Ardmore
Theresa Flannery, Catholic Charities OKC
Ellen Roberts, Ardmore Behavioral Health Collaborative
Laura Akers, Grace Center of Southern Oklahoma
Karlie Harper, Grace Center of Southern Oklahoma
Capt. Alan Grimes, Salvation Army
Kevin Stinson, Big 5
Terrah White, Community Children's Shelter and Family Service Center
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Other:
Carolyn Jones, volunteer
Sabra Emde, Ardmore City Schools
Keri Taylor, Ardmore City Schools
Kristi Crutchfield Cox, counselor
Roxanne Logan, Together OK
Resources and Links
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Ardmore Homeless Coalition's Goals
NEW: 2021 Carter County Point In Time Results / 2021 Carter County Point In Time Results (Grace Center only)
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Ardmore Homeless Coalition Space Needs Survey (Link)
The Community Children’s Shelter is conducting our annual survey to find out what the needs of youth and families in southern Oklahoma (link)
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NEW: 2021 Oklahoma Housing Profile from the national Low Income Housing Coalition
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NEW: HUD Jan. 2021 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress
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Oklahoma Statewide Continuum of Care Lead Agency Contacts
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines a Continuum of Care Plan as a community (local and regional) plan to organize and deliver housing and services to meet the specific needs of people who are homeless from the moment they enter the doors of the first service provider and as they move to stable housing and maximum self-sufficiency. Each Continuum includes action steps to end homelessness through prevention and establishment of stable and secure housing.
Oklahoma Emergency Solutions Grants (with contact information for the leader of the SE Oklahoma CoC)
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Oklahoma Governor's Interagency Council on Homelessness 2021 Proposed Meeting Schedule
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Governor's Interagency Council on Homelessness 5-Year Plan to End Homelessness in Oklahoma
