Norman is partnering with Mental Health Association to prevent homelessness. How will it work?
Amid increased homelessness issues in Norman, the city is partnering with a Tulsa-based nonprofit to expand a new initiative that would connect members of the unhoused with employment opportunities and supportive housing.
Mental Health Association Oklahoma, a longtime organization tackling mental health issues, announced the initiative 'A Better Way – Opportunity Knocks' in Norman on May 9. The program, being funded by Norman's opioid settlement funding, is meant to address substance abuse and prevent overdoses by engaging with the local homeless population directly at encampments and shelters.
Participants are offered a two-week program that would involve a daily meal and compensation for a day's work. Cash payment would be provided at the end of each shift, and after completing the program, staff will connect the participant with a case manager to help them access housing resources, permanent job placements, behavioral health care and other wraparound services.
Carrie Blumert, CEO of Mental Health Association and a former Oklahoma County commissioner, said the start of the Norman program represented the nonprofit's first expansion outside of its headquartered facilities in Tulsa and the Lottie House in Oklahoma City.
'Something that we pride ourselves on at Mental Health Association is we say we're boots on the ground,' Blumert said. 'We go to where people are. We will go under a bridge. We will go to someone on a street corner and engage with them and build trust with them and get them access to services.'
More: Homeless people in Oklahoma want jobs. It's easier said than done | Opinion
The initial 'Better Way' program launched in Tulsa in 2018 and has seen success over the years. According to Mental Health Association officials, Tulsa participants have collected more than 8,000 bags of litter over the last seven years while working with beautification projects in Tulsa's parks and other public spaces.
Last year, 67 participants in Tulsa transitioned into long-term, full-time work, and between January and August 2024, at least 14 people moved from the streets into stable housing.
Elements of a similar approach with providing supportive services for the unhoused population also have seen demonstrable success in Oklahoma City, with the Key to Home Partnership's Encampment Rehousing Initiative. Mental Health Association Oklahoma is among dozens of partner agencies for that program, which has so far housed at least 355 people since 2023.
Related: As homeless demographics change, Point In Time count informs where services most needed
But issues with homelessness have become a flashpoint of debate in Norman. Last year's Point-in-Time Count in Cleveland County found 240 people experiencing homelessness, with at least 91 sleeping outdoors, an increase of 23% from the 2023 survey.
A recent controversial bill from Lisa Standridge, a state senator representing Norman, proposed zoning restrictions prohibiting new homeless shelters from being approved within 3,000 feet of a school, public library, city park or child day care facilities in cities with fewer than 300,000 residents. The bill died in the House in April.
Norman Mayor Larry Heikkila, who will leave office on July 1, had supported Standridge's bill because he said the city lacked enough financial resources to adequately support the homeless population. Similarly, he said the city's 'Better Way' initiative had been in the works for more than two years but was delayed largely due to issues with securing funding.
But the city's opioid settlement funds, being paid out over 18 years, helped finally make the program a reality.
''A Better Way – Opportunity Knocks' is more than just a program; it's a call to action,' Heikkila said. 'Through these work opportunities and direct access to services, this program offers a path for those who are ready to take personal responsibility for their future. This program is also a reflection of our willingness to think creatively about real funding solutions, and by strategically using resources such as opioid settlement funds, we are turning the damage done by a national crisis into an opportunity for local healing and long-term impact.'
More: Oklahoma bill aims to prevent Norman from using city funds for a homeless shelter, author says
Mental Health Association staff and Norman officials celebrated the new partnership during a May launch event in downtown Norman. Michele Loudenback, the city's environmental and sustainability manager, said residents can expect to see a van branded with 'A Better Way' logos roving the streets by June 1.
'It's just been a process of fine-tuning the program and finding the funding,' Loudenback said. 'And we've had quite a bit of conflict between business owners and some advocates in the community, and I think all cities have this tension, so I think this is also going to be a great way to ease some of that conflict, too, and bring that connection so that people can see each other.'
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma nonprofit, Norman partner on homelessness initiative
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Axios
27 minutes ago
- Axios
Exclusive: Zorro clinches $20M Series A for ICHRA health plans
Health benefits provider Zorro raised $20 million in Series A funding led by Entrée Capital, CEO Guy Ezekiel tells Axios exclusively. Why it matters: As employers wrestle with rising health plan costs, individual coverage health reimbursement arrangements (ICHRAs) are gaining steam. Driving the news: Launched in 2020, ICHRAs were enabled by a Trump-era rule letting employers reimburse employees tax-free for individual health insurance instead of offering group plans. After a slow start, rule clarifications and compliance tools made them more accessible to midsized employers. Follow the money: Existing backers Pitango and 10D joined the round, which will be used to scale operations and improve support for employers. The Series A brings Zorro to $31.5 million total raised. The company is not yet profitable. How it works: New York City-based Zorro replaces traditional group plans with defined-contribution models. Employers set a budget; employees use Zorro's AI engine to select personalized plans, and brokers get real-time tools to compare group plans versus ICHRA-based options. When it onboards an employer, Zorro asks them to send their benefits roster from the previous year, asks about quality and budget priorities for the upcoming year, and helps predict what benefits employees might want next. Zorro has "several thousand" lives on the platform, per Ezekiel. Between the lines: Zorro's pitch hinges not just on cost control but on its ability to shift complex decision-making from HR to software — claiming that 75% of users enroll without human help. What they're saying: "We're giving the employer a line of sight to how his upcoming year is going to look," says Ezekiel. Reality check: While ICHRAs are gaining traction, they remain a small fraction of the employer market. Zorro's long-term success depends on widespread broker adoption and employee trust in AI-led benefit decisions. State of play: A February Bailey's report predicted the debut of several new ICHRA startups in 2025. Several others have secured recent funding. In April, Thatch raised $40 million in Series B funding led by Index Ventures and Venteur Health Insurance raised a $20 million Series A led by Informed Ventures and American Family Ventures. Remodel Health last December collected more than $100 million in a round led by Oak HC/FT and Hercules Capital.
Axios
13 hours ago
- Axios
Exclusive: Autonomize AI gets $28M for health agents
Autonomize AI, a provider of AI agents to health systems and plans, raised $28 million in Series A funding, CEO Ganesh Padmanabhan tells Axios exclusively. The big picture: It's the latest sign of investor appetite for infrastructure-layer AI in health care — especially platforms that promise scale, compliance, and a clear ROI. Follow the money: Autonomize plans to expand deployment of its "Copilot" AI agents across payers, providers, and life sciences organizations. Valtruis, Cigna Ventures, and Tau Ventures led the round, joined by previous investors Asset Management Ventures, ATX Venture Partners, and Capital Factory. The Series A provides 24-month runway, though the company could raise before then, Padmanabhan says. How it works: Austin-based Autonomize's agentic AI platform stitches together pre-trained agents for tasks like benefits verification, care planning, and chart review. The company uses a human-in-the-loop model and offers explainability and compliance features — two key factors for success in health care. Most of its customers are payors, followed by value-based care providers and syndicated health plans. Between the lines: Autonomize was built specifically for the highly regulated business of health care, per Padmanabhan. "I've met nurses who have a 400-page binder on their desk that they still refer to before making adjudication decisions within health plans," says Padmanabhan. "There's no way an AI agent is going to find that because that data, that knowledge, is not digitized." What they're saying: "The way the technology is configured is, you set up an agent for a particular use case and it's reusable for others," says Valtruis managing director Mike Spadafore. "A lot of these workflows are made up of 15, 20 different steps that you assemble into different workflows," Spadafore adds, noting Autonomize's repeatability was attractive. "A complex workflow, like care management or like prior authorization, is actually multiple sub workflows," Padmanabhan says. A benefit check is one example —where users are looking at patient information across multiple documents. Reality check: The market is flooded with "AI for health care" startups, but most are still struggling to show meaningful, repeatable results.
Tom's Guide
13 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
Experts warn not to dry bedding outside this summer — here's why
Drying your sheets outside on a bright sunny day seems like the natural thing to do. However, this cause problems for some sleepers, particularly those prone to allergies. According to the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, around 25.7% of adults suffered from seasonal allergies in 2021. While we recommend drying your bed sheets and pillow covers in the sun to get rid of dust mites and bacteria, this can also sometimes trigger allergy symptoms. We reached out to medical and cleaning experts to find out why this happens and what other effective alternatives are. Here's what they had to say… "It's well known that grass, tree and weed pollen can cling on to the bedsheets, particularly if these are made from cotton," says Dr. Elena Salagean, allergy consultant at Holistic Allergy. These can cause what experts call 'seasonal allergic rhinitis' or, simply put, pollen allergy or hay fever. But why does pollen aggravate or cause allergic reactions? Studies show that this is because our bodies mistakes pollen for a harmful substance and release a defensive response that can irritate our airways. This can result in various allergic symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing or red, watery eyes. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Even if we take precautions such as loading up on antihistamines or not going outside when the pollen count (defined as the amount of pollen in the air measured in grains per cubic meter) is high, we could still get exposed in other ways, like by drying bedsheets outside. "On a high pollen count day, bedding left outside can soak up high number of pollen particles, which you then bring indoors and breathe in at night. This can make your hay fever worse," explains Dr. Salagean. Tumble drying is the leading alternative recommended by experts to avoid pollen contamination. "You can use a tumble dryer with a good lint filter or dry them on an indoor clothes airer, ideally in a well ventilated room," says Dr. Hussain Ahmad, health practitioner at UK-based Click2Pharmacy. However, if you're drying sheets indoors, it's a good idea to invest in a dehumidifier as this can keep the moisture at bay, which can otherwise lead to mold or mildew growth. If you still prefer to dry outside, especially if it's a particularly bright sunny day, Dr. Salagean says that you can leave your sheets out for a few hours early in the afternoon. "This might just reduce the amount of pollen you bring back into the house. Even on a high pollen count day, the pollen levels tend to peak in early morning or late afternoon or early evening," she explains. The first step to get rid of allergens from your bedroom is to wash your bedding regularly. "Washing your bedding once a week at 60°C kills off dust mites and removes pollen or pet dander that might have settled on the fabric," says Dr. Ahmad. For a thorough cleanse, make sure to avoid overloading your machine, which is one of the most common washing mistakes to make. Apart from its sleep benefits, a warm shower before bed can also help prevent your allergies from getting triggered. "A quick shower before bed helps by rinsing off any allergens from your skin or hair, so you're not transferring them to your pillow," says Dr. Ahmad. This is important since your pillow and bedding are in direct contact with your skin and nose, which means an easy way for pollen to get into your system. As already mentioned, during high pollen count days, pollen levels can peak in the morning and evening. Closing your windows early in the evening can prevent pollen from getting into your clean bedroom and contaminating the environment hours before you're ready to sleep. This also depends on the season, as pollen levels tend to spike in spring and summer. Using an air purifier is an efficient way to trap microscopic particles like pollen which can cause irritations and allergies. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), air purifiers with HEPA filters (high-efficiency particulate air) can remove around 99.97% of dust mites, pollen and other particles up with a size of 0.3 microns. "You could even leave it on high power for 30 minutes - one hour before going to bed so it recirculates more of the air," recommends Dr. Salagean. Snuggling up with your furry friend might be the most comforting thing, but it can result in severe consequences for your allergies. While you might do everything to keep pollen out of your house, your pets could be an indirect source of still getting exposed to these nasty particles. "Keep pets out of the bedroom as they can also bring in pollen on their coats especially if they go outside," says Dr. Salagean. Yes, carpets and rugs might give you the perfect cottage-core aesthetic this summer but if you're prone to allergies, we would advise against it. "The fewer soft furnishings and clutter you have, the less dust there is to settle. If you can, swap carpets for hard flooring, which doesn't trap allergens like carpets do," says Dr. Ahmad. Can't do without them? Clean them regularly using one of the best vacuum cleaners with a HEPA filter. Your pillows, sheets, blankets or duvets are in direct contact with your skin and so while you can maintain them to be clean and free of particles, prevention is always better than cure. Thanks to modern manufacturing methods, we're now able to access bedding crafted from soft hypoallergenic materials like cotton, bamboo, kapok and memory foam which are resistant to dust mites, pollen and other common allergens.
