Lawton government sparks controversy with strategies to address homelessness

Since the passing of the anti-camping ordinance at the state level back in 2024, Lawton City Government has followed suit with many attempts to address the city’s homelessness. Some of those efforts included their own municipal anti-camping ordinance, taking ownership of the Salvation Army’s tent city, later renamed the “Engage Community“ and starting a bussing program to buy tickets to reconnect unhoused with family or other support systems. 

However, a majority of these initiatives have come with their fair share of controversy from the community, homeless advocates and nonprofits in the area. Most recently, a ‘Kids First Homeless Action Plan’ was created associating those who are chronically homeless with being criminals and according to many nonprofit officials, made without their input.

Now, Lawton city council members met to discuss a plan created by ChatGPT, a popular AI platform. The plan, in simple terms, went over reducing homelessness using the Community Development Block Grant funds, or CDBG. Lawton Mayor Stan Booker told the council there were two main efforts. The first was to not spend any CDBG funds for people without an affiliation with the city and the second was not to expend those funds on increasing shelter sizes, or bed counts.

“I think everybody knows we cannot handle all of the homeless we’re attracting,” Booker stated. 

Two members of the community spoke on the subject. One had issues with the use of ChatGPT stating it would be more transparent if the city shared the prompt material that resulted in the plan. The other was in support of the city’s efforts and expressed the residual effects it has had on businesses and homeowners.

According to Booker they have hired a consultant, Dr. AJ Griffin, to help draft a five year plan for their CDBG funds. This raises the question: if they’re paying for a consultant, why use artificial intelligence to come up with this plan? Dark Roast reached out to Griffin to learn more about her role.

Griffin is CEO of Potts Family Foundation, a nonprofit that offers a plethora of services whether assisting in child development or family resources. However, she said no agreement has been signed and nothing has been finalized.

Some in the community have shared concerns over this situation and the mayor’s approach to dealing with homelessness, including those who are on the ground conversing and assisting the unhoused. Brenda Spencer-Ragland, the operator of C. Carter Crane, a high barrier shelter within the city, had a few comments on the matter. 

One major emphasis of the plan, according to the agenda, was to find a way to reduce homelessness without creating new programs that could attract the unhoused from outside the city. However, according to Spencer-Ragland, everyone in her shelter is Lawton local. Additionally, the plan allocates nearly $150,000 for various shelters’ improvements and lists C. Carter Crane being in need of a new fire suppression system and HVAC system. Meanwhile, Spencer-Ragland said they aren’t in need of anything like what was suggested and recently had a fire inspection completed. 

Councilman Allan Hampton clarified that there’s a distinction between those who are in poverty and those who are suffering from homelessness, either transitional or chronic. Typically, the two types of homelessness can also be distinguished by what shelter would allow them.

High barrier shelters have a more stringent process of accepting applicants and are usually meant for the transitional homeless. On the other hand, a low barrier shelter has far less restrictions making them more suitable for the chronically homeless. As Lawton officials work to limit increasing shelter capacity and council members focus on the chronic homeless, it’s important to note that there is not a single low-barrier shelter in Lawton for the chronic homeless to go to. At the moment, the only place accepting the chronic homeless is the Engage Community.

During the discussion, Booker referred to a conversation he had with Captain Bryan Brinlee of the Salvation Army the week prior. According to Booker, Brinlee stated there is a direct correlation between the number of homeless and the amount of services provided and that if you build 1,000 beds, you’ll attract enough people to fill those beds.

Councilwoman Sherene L. Williams made a motion during the council meeting to only use CDBG funds for people with ties to Lawton and not allow CDBG funds to be used to expand shelter capacity.

“They need to get a job and work like everybody else worked,” Williams stated earlier in the council meeting. “This homeless situation, to me, has gotten out of control.”  

For clarification on part of the plan, Lawton City Manager John Ratliff asked the mayor how they would know whether someone had a tie to the city or not. In response, Booker said there are nonprofits in the area that help the unhoused obtain an I.D. In some cases, CDBG funds directly and indirectly fund this particular service.

That wasn’t the only thing on the agenda relating to homelessness though. The council also passed an amendment to their anti-camping ordinance to include private property. After declaring an emergency on the situation, it is no longer permitted to camp on someone’s private property without the property owners’ permission. They also added funds to the city’s on-going bussing program.

Earlier in the meeting, officials with Family Promise gave a presentation over converting a building into transitional housing for families. The organization was asking for leftover HOME funds from the city before they expired.

However, after a lengthy discussion, city officials stated the request was coming too last minute. Multiple community members commented after the fact, stating the city delayed the process as this presentation was given back in July, originally. City officials requested more information from Family Promise to consider the project which is what led to this discussion.

“Is there a way to award this money to the CHDO, the $42,000 that’s about to expire, without using it on this project that’s been presented because I don’t think the council is sold on the project,” Booker asked. “I think the reality of the situation is that this has just been too last minute.”

After a motion was made to deny the request, which passed, the two most recently sworn in council members voted against the denial. 

Despite pushback from many community members on the way city officials have been handling the unhoused, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt released a statement in appreciation for what Mayor Booker is doing to address homelessness. This follows the completion of Stitt’s recent action taken to address homelessness in Tulsa called Operation SAFE. 

“I applaud Mayor Booker for stepping up to address the issue of homelessness in Lawton,” Governor Stitt said. “It is not compassionate to let people live on the streets, but it is the job of state and local leadership to enforce the law. The people of Oklahoma deserve safe communities, and I’m proud of Mayor Booker for his dedication to addressing homelessness in Lawton.”