Lawton's Homeless Response & Resources

The City of Lawton is taking a comprehensive approach to address homelessness by focusing on prevention, outreach, and long-term solutions. Through partnerships with local organizations and service providers, the City is working to connect individuals experiencing homelessness with essential resources such as shelter, mental health services, and bus tickets to their desired location anywhere in the lower 48 United States.

COMMUNITY RESOURCE DIRECTORY

The United Way of Southwest Oklahoma plays a vital role in supporting the City of Lawton's efforts to address homelessness by connecting individuals and families with essential resources and services.

Through their Community Resources Directory, the United Way helps those in need find access to shelter, food, employment assistance, healthcare, and other critical support systems. By collaborating with local organizations and offering referral services, they serve as a bridge between the unhoused community and the resources available to help them transition toward stability. Their ongoing partnership with the City ensures a compassionate and comprehensive approach to tackling homelessness in Lawton.

A TICKET TO A NEW BEGINNING: 

  The City of Lawton has launched a program to assist homeless individuals in returning to their home   cities, offering bus tickets to those who wish to reconnect with family, friends, or support networks   elsewhere. Funded by the City Manager’s Contingency Fund, which addresses emergency community   needs, the initiative allows participants to choose any destination within the contiguous United States.   Referrals are made through local homeless shelters, the Lawton Police Department, or city homeless   committees.

  For more information call Joe Hankins, Code Enforcement Officer, at (580) 591-2887.

TRESPASS AUTHORIZATION FORM

We also recognize that this situation may be a frustration for property owners. The City offers a Trespass Enforcement Authorization Form for residential property owners or manages in Lawton. CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT THE FORM.

By completing and submitting this form to the Lawton Police Department, property owners or managers provide clear permission for officers to take action against trespassers, even if the owner is not on-site. This authorization applies exclusively to vacant single-family homes and open, vacant lots. The form is particularly helpful for homeowners who are out of town, on vacation, or unable to monitor their property due to hospitalization or other circumstances.

ANTI-CAMPING ORDINANCE:

In response to concerns about unauthorized camping on public property, the Lawton City Council enacted an anti-camping ordinance in October 2024, which bans camping without authorization and defines it as staying temporarily with any form of shelter, such as tents or sleeping bags.

Individuals declining assistance may face a $50 fine or detention if unable to pay, though the city emphasizes a compassionate approach. Lawton police, trained to interact with the unhoused, will offer resources through partnerships with organizations like the United Way and the Salvation Army, which provides temporary shelter and services.

The ordinance’s goal is to connect individuals with resources, ensuring support while addressing the broader homelessness crisis collaboratively.