Sanctuary Volunteers at the 2009 Christmas Lunch

HOMELESS SERVICES

• Sanctuary Women’s Development Center
• Homelessness in OKC
• Oklahoma City's 10-year Plan

Sanctuary Women’s Development Center

Mission Statement: SWDC’s mission is to support basic human rights through offering homeless and low-income women and their children resources, support, and advocacy to alleviate the effects of poverty within the community and empower them with the tools to overcome homelessness.

In early 2009, Catholic Charities expanded its homeless services programs when it found a home of its own at Our Lady of Guadalupe mission church in southwest Oklahoma City.  The new program, called “Sanctuary” to reflect both the program’s physical environment as well as its philosophy, provides social services to homeless and at-risk women and their children including resource referral and assistance accessing services such as daycare and Early Head Start, vocational and employment development, solution-focused advocacy and self-efficacy group.  The church’s former parish hall, now called “Mary’s House,” serves as a classroom and gathering space for celebrations or large group activities.

Trained social workers assess the personal strengths and needs of participants including health and nutritional status, income and benefits, mental health status, and vocational/employment concerns.  The assessment also identifies legal, domestic violence and child abuse issues or concerns.

For each family, a proactive plan of support is developed to assist the family in overcoming homelessness and poverty as quickly as possible.  Other community agencies partner with Sanctuary staff and offer on-site services to make each plan a reality.  Volunteers, program staff and University of Oklahoma School of Social Work students also offer on-site skill-development classes including job search, resume writing, mock interviewing, and vocational rehabilitation.  Baptist Mission Center hosts a daily lunch for participants in the program, located one block away.  Participants may also access free clothing, basic medical and dental services, and prescriptions offered at the nearby Baptist Mission Center.

Although the Sanctuary program focuses on the needs of women who live in shelters, services are available to others who are at risk of becoming homeless.  As an outreach to low-income families living in the neighborhood, Sanctuary participants maintain a community garden and all are welcome to tend the garden and pick the produce.

Services Offered at Sanctuary

• Case Management
• Computer Lab
• Phones with personal voicemail for participants
• Life Skills Development
• Employment Resources
• Health Education
• Access to Community Resources
• Trauma Group Counseling
• Community Garden
• Safe Haven to rest and refocus
• Access to Mental Health Resources
• Art Activities

How to Help

To help victims of homelessness regain hope and self-sufficiency, please click on the links below:

Volunteer Your Time - Sanctuary needs volunteers available to donate their time between 8:30 am and 3:00 pm. Duties will involve assisting with child care, snacks, coffee, listening, work in community garden, food pantry, sewing, computer use, etc. Those with skills in scripture studies, health, cooking, job training, communication, crafts or professional abilities such as hair stylists, counselors, attorneys, and medical professionals are also greatly in need. For more information contact Cassie Neahring at Catholic Charities, (405) 526-2308.

Make A Financial Donation
Donate a Wish List Item
Target Registry (link)

Contact Us

Physical Address
Sanctuary Women’s Development Center
2133 SW 11th
Oklahoma City, OK 73108
Phone: (405) 526-2321

Mailing Address
Catholic Charities
Attn: Sanctuary Women’s Development Center
1501 N. Classen Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73106

Homelessness in Oklahoma City

Each year, Oklahoma City takes one day to count and survey every homeless person in the city. The most recent "Point-in-Time" count of the homeless was conducted on January 25, 2007. The intention of this count was to provide a snapshot picture of homelessness in Oklahoma City, of both the number of homeless people and their characteristics. A large team of community volunteers from more than ten organizations surveyed homeless persons in emergency homeless shelters, transitional housing facilities, hot meal sites, crisis facilities such as hospitals and the jail, encampments, and various street locations.

The Point-in-Time count yields valuable data to help service providers understand how many local people are homeless and what kinds of needs they have. This information aids in planning Oklahoma City's services and programs to feed and shelter the population as well as to help them find affordable housing, access transportation, receive rehabilitation and counseling, find employment, and improve their skills through education and training.

Oklahoma City's 10-Year Plan

The original Homes for the Homeless – 10 Year Plan to Create Lasting Solutions was adopted by the City Council in 2004.  The plan was created by the Coalition for the Needy, comprised of shelter and service providers, government agencies and City staff, and has been used to coordinate and focus efforts to take strategic, high-impact action steps to decrease homelessness in Oklahoma City.  The plan, reviewed and updated annually, included the following key goals: increase the supply of Permanent Supportive Housing; develop a centralized intake center (WestTown Resource Center); improve transportation for homeless persons; develop and enforce minimum standards for all shelter and housing programs; create a database (Homeless Management Information System), implement performance- based funding and evaluation of service providers; and expedite benefits enrollment for all eligible homeless persons. 

For more information about the Plan and its progress to date, please click here.