Three Oklahoma City nonprofits will expand mental health services, eviction prevention and housing for people experiencing homelessness after receiving a combined $794,750 from the Oklahoma City Community Foundation (OCCF).
The grants, distributed through the foundation's Bridge OKC Fund, went to the Homeless Alliance, Mental Health Association Oklahoma and Key to Home, as the Journal Record reported Tuesday. The OCCF announced the awards Aug. 3. One additional grant is still pending, which will push the fund's total investment past $1 million.
Lindsay Cates, director of community programs for the foundation, said the Bridge OKC Fund is a one-time pool from OCCF trustees and donors aimed at nonprofits helping people through housing instability. Cates said the three organizations collaborate closely to address service gaps across the city.
Central Oklahoma nonprofits are facing significant financial pressures from cuts to government and other funding sources even as costs and demand for services climb, the foundation said in its announcement.
Homeless Alliance: clinical services at the day shelter
The Homeless Alliance plans to use its grant to hire a clinical director, purchase records-management software and make facility upgrades at its day shelter, which serves hundreds of people daily with meals, showers and access to employment programs.
Meghan Mueller, president and CEO of the Homeless Alliance, said the goal is to become a certified behavioral health provider so the shelter can accept Medicaid. "This grant specifically is funding our clinical director, who has been helping us get that off the ground … It's also funding the software that we will need in order to maintain compliant records," Mueller told the Journal Record.
Mental Health Association Oklahoma: eviction mediators
Mental Health Association Oklahoma will hire two additional eviction mediators for its Shelterwell Program, including a bilingual mediator for Spanish-speaking residents. That brings the team to three.
Carrie Blumert, CEO of Mental Health Association Oklahoma, said the mediators work in Oklahoma County Eviction Court to help tenants and landlords reach agreements, often by helping residents plan how to pay overdue rent. Between May and December 2025, the program completed 150 mediations, achieving a 72% agreement rate and an 86% housing retention rate, according to the Journal Record.
Key to Home: housing and the CARE Team
Key to Home, a partnership of more than 50 organizations focused on ending homelessness in Oklahoma City, will use its grant largely to cover housing costs for individuals facing complex behavioral health challenges.
The partnership launched its Coordinated Adaptive Response and Engagement (CARE) Team earlier in 2026 to pair street outreach workers with mental health clinicians, according to the City of Oklahoma City. The Bridge OKC funding will expand the CARE Team and secure rental assistance for clients working with case managers toward stabilization.
Erika Warren, communications manager for the City of Oklahoma City's Homeless Services division, said having housing resources available the moment someone is ready is the first step to long-term success.
More than a dozen service providers collaborate on the CARE Team, including the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Catholic Charities, SSM Health and OU Health.
Because the Bridge OKC Fund is a one-time investment, all three organizations will need to seek additional grant funding to sustain the expanded programs. The foundation has not announced a date for the final grant disbursement.
