City, County Reach Agreement to Move Low-Barrier Shelter Facility Forward

10/20/2025

Former County Juvenile Detention Center to be Transformed into Low-Barrier Shelter

The City of Tulsa and Tulsa County have reached an agreement for the City to purchase the former Tulsa County Juvenile Detention Center building to be used as a new 24-hour, seven days-a-week operating low-barrier shelter, marking a major milestone in Tulsa’s decisive and coordinated efforts to address homelessness.

The City and County are now moving forward with official procedures to make this a reality with a formal process to finalize the transaction in the coming weeks.

“I made a commitment to work with partners to make homelessness as we know it a thing of the past; this shelter is a major piece of making that commitment a reality,” Mayor Nichols said. “I'm thankful for our partners at Tulsa County for helping us meet one of Tulsa's most pressing needs. Together, we’re taking a crucial step to ensure every Tulsan has a safe place to go and receives the support they need to get back on their feet, and together we’re one step closer to functional zero homelessness in our city.”

Ultimately, the low-barrier shelter will serve as a real solution to decrease street homelessness and encampments by expanding the number of beds available in Tulsa to help more people off the streets and into a supportive environment.

Under the agreement, the City will purchase the facility for $500,000 and assume responsibility for ongoing security and site management. While the City of Tulsa will not be operating the shelter, the City has agreed to secure the property until it is transferred to a private community collaborative for development and operations. The Tulsa Police Department will respond to calls for service at the facility and assist with surveillance needs.

District 2 Tulsa County Commissioner Lonnie Sims emphasized the importance of partnership and shared responsibility in addressing community challenges.

"Our shared responsibility in this partnership ensures that both the low-barrier shelter and the county’s emergency family shelter can safely and effectively support our most vulnerable residents, side by side," Commissioner Sims said. "By working together, we strengthen our community and ensure critical assistance reaches those who need it most."

The new shelter will serve as a cornerstone of the City’s comprehensive homelessness response, a key part of its Path to Home and Safe Move Tulsa Initiatives. Ultimately, it will provide immediate, accessible shelter options and connect individuals to services focused on long-term stability, including case management, mental health support, and housing navigation.

Because the facility will operate 24 hours and seven days a week, its visitors will be able to access it more easily because of its lower barriers to entry and its ability to be pet friendly.

Prior to opening, the City is working to stand up an inclement weather shelter that will open in the coming months. More information on the inclement weather shelter will be announced soon.