On September 12, 2025, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) delivered a significant update on Operation SAFE, the governor’s task force initiative aimed at addressing homelessness in Tulsa. After a week of coordinated action, authorities reported the clearing of 64 homeless camps across the city, the removal of more than one million pounds of trash, and, notably, the absence of any arrests during the operation. This large-scale effort, which has drawn attention from local residents and advocacy groups alike, marks a pivotal moment in Tulsa’s approach to a persistent and complex social challenge.
According to KOCO 5, Operation SAFE—standing for “Securing All Families Equally”—was launched by the governor’s office in response to growing concerns about public safety, sanitation, and the well-being of Tulsa’s unhoused population. The task force, comprised of OHP troopers and other state agencies, began its work seven days prior to the latest update, moving swiftly to identify and dismantle encampments that had sprung up in parks, underpasses, and vacant lots throughout the city. The operation’s sheer scale is underscored by the staggering figure of one million pounds of trash collected, a testament to the size and longevity of many of these camps.
Despite the magnitude of the task, OHP emphasized that the process has been largely peaceful. “No arrests have been made through the operation and most of the individuals have been cooperative,” the agency reported, as cited by KOCO 5. The absence of arrests is especially noteworthy, given the contentious nature of similar sweeps in other cities, where confrontations and legal challenges have sometimes erupted. In Tulsa, however, authorities say their approach has prioritized dialogue and voluntary compliance, seeking to connect displaced individuals with available resources rather than resorting to punitive measures.
Still, the operation has not unfolded without controversy or concern. As reported by the Oklahoma Eagle, the state’s latest update on its “crackdown of the unhoused” has sparked debate among community leaders and service providers about the long-term efficacy and human impact of such sweeps. While the immediate removal of camps may address some residents’ fears about safety and cleanliness, advocates for the homeless warn that simply dispersing people without adequate shelter options risks perpetuating a cycle of instability and marginalization.
In response to these concerns, a new campaign has emerged in Tulsa, seeking to raise $7 million to fund housing solutions for the city’s homeless population. The Tulsa World reports that the campaign aims to bridge the gap between emergency responses like Operation SAFE and more sustainable strategies that focus on permanent housing, mental health support, and job training. Organizers of the campaign argue that lasting progress will require not just the removal of camps, but a robust investment in services that address the root causes of homelessness.
Public perception of safety in Tulsa’s downtown area appears to be improving, according to a recent survey highlighted by the Tulsa World. The survey found that 60% of respondents believe downtown Tulsa is as safe or safer than it was last year—a statistic that city officials and business leaders have seized upon as evidence that efforts like Operation SAFE are having a positive effect. However, others caution that perceptions of safety do not always reflect the lived experiences of those who have been displaced by the sweeps, many of whom now face uncertainty about where to go next.
The debate over homelessness in Tulsa is unfolding against a broader backdrop of political and social change in Oklahoma. In the same week as the Operation SAFE update, Governor Stitt announced the appointment of three new officials to his administration, as reported by Oklahoma Voice. While these appointments were not directly related to homelessness policy, they signal a continued focus by state leadership on issues of public order and governance.
For many Tulsans, the question remains: what comes after the sweep? With 64 camps cleared and a million pounds of debris hauled away, the city’s landscape has changed—at least temporarily. But the underlying challenges of homelessness, from affordable housing shortages to mental health crises, remain as pressing as ever. Advocacy groups are urging state and local officials to pair enforcement with compassion, pointing to models in other cities where “housing first” approaches have yielded more lasting results.
“We can’t just keep moving people from place to place,” said one campaign organizer, as quoted in the Tulsa World. “If we want Tulsa to be safer and healthier for everyone, we have to invest in real solutions—starting with housing.” This sentiment echoes a growing consensus among experts that clearing camps, while sometimes necessary for public health or safety, is only a stopgap measure unless followed by meaningful support for those affected.
OHP’s report that most individuals have been cooperative during the operation offers a glimmer of hope that future efforts might build on this spirit of collaboration. State officials have pledged to continue working with local partners to connect unhoused residents with shelter, medical care, and employment services. Whether these promises will translate into concrete improvements remains to be seen, but the urgency of the situation is clear to all involved.
Meanwhile, the city’s residents are grappling with mixed feelings—relief that some of the most visible camps have been removed, tempered by concern for the fate of those who once called them home. Business owners and downtown workers, many of whom participated in the recent safety survey, express cautious optimism that Tulsa is moving in the right direction. Yet, as one respondent noted, “It’s not just about feeling safer—it’s about making sure everyone in our city has a place to go.”
As Tulsa enters the next phase of its response to homelessness, the lessons of Operation SAFE are likely to shape policy discussions for months to come. The operation’s emphasis on nonviolence and cooperation has won praise from some quarters, while critics continue to push for deeper investments in housing and social services. With a $7 million fundraising campaign underway and public attention focused on the issue, Tulsa stands at a crossroads—one where the choices made today will reverberate far beyond the city’s borders.
For now, the cleared camps and collected debris serve as visible reminders of both the scale of the problem and the potential for change. The true measure of Operation SAFE’s success, however, will depend on whether Tulsa can turn this moment of action into a lasting commitment to support its most vulnerable residents.
