Understanding the Landscape

An overview of how Tulsa’s homeless services are funded — and where gaps remain

Housing Solutions sponsored a community-wide analysis of funding for programs serving people experiencing homelessness in Tulsa. Based on self-reported data from 20 local agencies, the report captures funding sources and allocations over a two-year period, from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2024.

The analysis shows that nearly 87% of total funding comes from philanthropic and federal sources, supporting services for more than 15,000 people each year. While total investment increased in the second year, the system remains heavily reliant on a limited number of funding streams, leaving it vulnerable to shifts in federal and philanthropic priorities.

Key Findings From the Analysis:

Federal sources provide 45% of total funding

Federal sources provide 45% of total funding, with major contributions from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Medicaid.

Philanthropic funding accounts for 42%

Philanthropic funding accounts for 42%, including donations from foundations and individual donors.

Local government funding makes up less than 6%

Local government funding makes up less than 6% of total system funding with much of that funding being federal passthrough dollars.

Only 1/3 of funding that goes into the homeless system is directed to moving people into housing and keeping them housed

88% of funding for housing programs come from federal funding sources, making these programs highly vulnerable to federal funding cuts in addition to being currently insufficient to meet the needs of the community.

Shelter programs receive the largest share

Overall funding increased from year one to year two, primarily driven by higher federal grants for veterans and youth homelessness, as well as increased philanthropic support. Funding to assist individuals and families to exit homelessness remains severely limited.

Overall funding increased from year one to year two

Overall funding increased from year one to year two, driven primarily by increased federal grants for veterans and youth homelessness, and greater philanthropic support.

Interactive Dashboard: See the Full Funding Picture

This dashboard provides a comprehensive look at how homeless services in Tulsa were funded during fiscal years 2023 and 2024. Use the filters and tabs to explore where funding comes from, how it’s allocated across program types, and how investments have changed over time.

Methodology

This analysis was sponsored by Housing Solutions and conducted by Homebase, a national technical assistance provider working to end homelessness in communities across the country. Homebase requested financial data from 20 government and non-profit agencies identified by Housing Solutions as operating programs that primarily serve people experiencing homelessness.

Homebase received financial information from 18 providers and held meetings with 16 providers to clarify data issues. Data for the outstanding 2 providers were located through publicly available tax documents. The analysis was conducted May-July 2025.