Operation SAFE has moved from Tulsa to Oklahoma City. Here's how they compare, differ

Operation SAFE is a state-led initiative aimed at removing homeless encampments on state-owned property in Oklahoma.

KOSU

By Robby Korth, Nathan Poppe, Matthew Viriyapah, Miguel Rios

November 10, 2025

In late October, Gov. Kevin Stitt announced that Operation SAFE would expand to Oklahoma City. This comes on the heels of a September effort aimed at sweeping homeless encampments on state-owned property within the city of Tulsa — specifically, underpasses, highways, and wooded areas along roads.

Not only did the initial Tulsa initiative surprise many vulnerable individuals without permanent housing, but it also caught service providers across the state off guard.

Tulsa’s Operation SAFE utilized trucks and bulldozers to clear camps, with assistance from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. The operation also issued an ultimatum from Oklahoma Highway Patrol officers: either go to jail or undergo transportation to a treatment facility or housing facility. Only one person accepted a ride to a shelter.

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