The need for affordable housing in Tulsa with Becky Gligo and Tyler Parette, Housing Solutions Tulsa

Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes. 

This time last year it was an arctic tundra outside for weeks. The weather was so bad for so long, there was the implantation of an overflow shelter for those experiencing homelessness. That wasn’t enough. People experiencing homelessness were moved into any hotel that rooms available. That still wasn’t enough.  

Next up, Housing Solutions Tulsa converted the old Wyndam Hotel on 41st to a Hotel to Housing program. It was a learning experience for the organization while helping save lives from the deadly weather.  

Housing Solutions is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to building systems that make homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring in Tulsa.  

My guests on this episode are Housing Solutions Executive Director Becky Gligo and Tyler Parette, Director of Outreach and Engagement. I’ve spent a lot of time talking to these two the last few years. I’ve written many stories on homelessness and taken part in the last two point-in-time counts, including the most recent one in late January.  

As you’ll hear, the point in time count is an annual census that collects data, allowing Housing Solutions to see trends over time, while learning about those experiencing homelessness and what they need to get back on their feet. There will be more about this in our March issue along with a photo gallery with the online story.  

For this conversation, I used it as a check-in to see where we are a year after that Frozen February and two years into a pandemic, which has increased the number of those experiencing homelessness.  I also used it as a way to ask common questions people often ask me about homelessness. One of the main questions I get is how can I help? In the show notes, I’ve linked Housing Solutions website where you can request an outreach and more.  

As you’ll hear, we have a lot of work to do and it starts with affordable housing.  

Following my conversation with Housing Solutions, listen to a song from Bandelier. More on that later.  

OK, let’s get this going. 

This is Tulsa Talks with Housing Solutions. 

In March, many Tulsa musicians will be returning to SXSW to showcase our local music scene. Bandelier will be among them. They'll be joining friends of the pod Steph Simon, Cassii Stephan and many more at Tulsa FMAC’s showcase in Austin on March 16. Speaking of Tulsa FMAC, they are relaunching their popular Play Tulsa Music program to help support local musicians and venues. You can read more it here.  

As for Bandelier, it looks like we’re going to be getting a new record from them. You can get updates on their facebook page and website linked in the show notes. And in the meantime, here’s fan favorite: “Bison Bison.”