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Housing

Housing is Healthcare

Stable housing is fundamental for all healthcare needs. When basic needs are not financially met, individuals can view healthcare as a luxury item. Providing rent, mortgage and utility assistance allows clients to focus on their health while preventing them from becoming homeless. Our housing programs are often a gateway into HIV care for many of our clients and housing assists in improving the effectiveness of all of our other programs.

The housing programs at Tulsa CARES assist clients with rent, mortgage and utility assistance when they are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless. The program also guarantees those assisted are living in safe homes and have the opportunities to learn how to be more financially stable.

How do I Become a Tulsa CARES’ Housing Client

Because housing is only one piece to a larger picture of health, we require that all housing clients have a primary care coordinator from Tulsa CARES, OSU or DHS. Our goal is to ensure that they are receiving the best care available and that they have access to medical care, additional information and resources to help with any unmet need.

Your primary HIV care coordinator can refer you to our housing program. After a referral is received you will be contacted by our housing case manager to discuss your needs. We have two different housing assistance programs available and can also help you access additional housing resources from other agencies.

If you do not have a primary HIV care coordinator, you may contact us and set up an intake with Care Coordination.

If you do not have a primary HIV case manager, you may contact us and set up an intake with Care Coordination.

The Emergency Housing Program
Monetary assistance can be provided if an emergency arises that can cause a client to become homeless. This program helps resolve one-time needs due to loss of wages, unexpected expenses or other outstanding life circumstances, which make affording housing difficult or impossible. Clients must be homeless, at imminent risk for becoming homeless or show a significant financial need to be eligible.

The Temporary Rental Assistance Program
Often low-income clients may have difficulty balancing their incomes against rising rental costs. The Temporary Rental Assistance Program is designed to help clients maintain stable housing by providing monthly assistance while they are waiting to be accepted into a permanent housing voucher program. Clients who are denied by the voucher programs, may continue to receive assistance through this program.

Permanent Housing Solutions
Our housing program can only provide temporary housing relief. Because of overwhelming need for continued housing assistance, a requirement for any Tulsa CARES’ housing program is to complete the application to one of the Section 8 Rental Voucher programs offered in the state.

Once accepted, voucher programs can supplement clients’ rental payments and offer a greater ability to afford rental costs.

To see a map of Tulsa apartment complexes that accept vouchers, click here.

Subsidized Housing Apartments: Many times a client cannot wait two to six months for a housing voucher. Subsidized Apartments are those that typically charge a client 30 percent of their monthly income, which will cover rent and all utilities. The remainder of the rent is paid for by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A client must apply at each individual apartment complex. To see a map of subsidized apartment complexes in Tulsa, click here.

Oklahoma Housing and Finance Agency is a statewide voucher program. Applications for OHFA’s can be accessed at: http://www.ohfa.org. Select the “Apply for Section 8” link to access their application.

Tulsa Housing Authority www.tha.org serves the Tulsa Area. They offer a Section 8 Rental Voucher program, subsidized housing apartments and homeownership classes.

Applications to local housing authorities can be accessed directly though those agencies or they can be accessed by contacting Tulsa CARES’ housing case manager.

Housing Plans of Action.
The overall goal of the housing program at Tulsa CARES is for clients to achieve sustained stable housing. All housing clients will meet with a case manager to come up with an individually tailored plan that addresses any barriers to stable housing. The housing case manager will be a partner in this journey, providing resources, referrals and assistance to become self-sufficient.

Financial Literacy Classes
Financial education is a key component in helping a client to avoid homelessness. Classes are being created that will offer financial education to help clients avoid the pit falls that can land them in an even graver financial crisis. These classes are required for clients on the Temporary Rental Assistance Program and offered to all housing clients.

Safe, Affordable Housing
In December 1999, Tulsa CARES purchased a four-unit apartment complex to provide clients a safe, affordable home. The Four-Plex Units are subsidized through our housing program and rented to clients receiving HIV case management from Tulsa CARES.

Housing Quality Standards Inspections
To assure that clients are living in safe, affordable housing anywhere in the community each dwelling unit must pass the Housing Quality Standards Inspection (HQS) before we can assist with either emergency or transitional housing programs. HQS inspections are the same inspection a unit must pass for any HUD funded voucher program. The housing case manager can help advocate for needed repairs from landlords, if necessary.