Rental assistance funding available through OHFA program
City Councilor and Unsheltered Homeless Task Force Chair Aaron Kirkpatrick speaks during the Helping Organization Summit held last week at Tri County Tech.
Bartlesville residents experiencing homelessness and other forms of hardship could soon be eligible for assistance with housing needs thanks to the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency HOME-Tenant-based Rental Assistance Program (TBRA).
The program, which will launch locally in January 2026, will provide up to 24 months of rental support for qualifying households. Assistance may cover rent, utilities, deposits, and other housing costs.
The City will partner with OHFA to help Bartlesville residents who quality, City Councilor Aaron Kirkpatrick announced during the Helping Organization Summit held last week at Tri County Tech. Kirkpatrick also serves as chair of the City’s Unsheltered Homeless Task Force, which sponsored the summit to help connect local non-profits and better inform the public of efforts underway to reduce homelessness in Bartlesville.
“I am very excited to be able to announce this important next step in our efforts to help our homeless neighbors exit homelessness,” Kirkpatrick said. “It will take some time to get fully set up, but once it is, this program will help many of the more vulnerable members of our community, as well as prevent homelessness and help families transition into stable housing. This is the missing piece in our ‘Highway Out of Homelessness’ initiative.”
The HOME-TBRA program is a first come, first served program with eligibility determined by HUD criteria, including individuals and families who are:
- Homeless
- At risk of homelessness
- Survivors of domestic violence or trafficking
- Eligible veterans
Intake will be handled through local helping organizations, ensuring assistance is offered in the same trusted relationships where neighbors are already receiving support, Kirkpatrick said.
“Our task force has been working to connect every organization into one coordinated network, and now, with OHFA’s support, we can help neighbors not only find services but also find and keep stable housing,” Kirkpatrick said.
An initial $5 million in HOME- ARP funding is available statewide allocated specifically for rental assistance, with future allocations possible.
“We anticipate an additional $5 million allocation soon with board approval,” said OHFA Rental Assistance Special Programs Supervisor Emmy Hise-Doran.
Bartlesville’s share of the funding will depend on the number of households served locally. For more information about the program and local intake, contact Kirkpatrick at aaronforward4@gmail.com or 918.914.9759.
The City’s Unsheltered Homeless Task force was created last year to address the rise in unsheltered homelessness and associated issues in response to the City’s organizational strategic plan, Bartlesville NEXT, which identified homelessness as a concern. The Task Force is in the process of implementing several programs aimed at helping those affected by homelessness — including easier options for donations, and software, called “Charity Tracker,” that will allow non-profit organizations to better provide services, Kirkpatrick said. For more information or to sign up for Charity Tracker, see www.charitytracker.com.
To listen to the summit in its entirety, see www.bartlesvilleradio.com, FULL AUDIO: Helping Organizations Summit.