Governor Stitt's Operation SAFE Sweeps Homeless Encampments Across Oklahoma City

Governor Kevin Stitt has expanded Operation SAFE, a campaign to clear homeless encampments from state-owned property, from Tulsa to Oklahoma City. The operation involves the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation removing camps primarily along the I-40 corridor and other state lands, with the cooperation of the local nonprofit Key to Home, which offers displaced individuals meals, shelter, and assistance in finding housing. While Stitt emphasizes that the state is protecting families and enforcing laws by offering help or jail for non-compliance, some local officials criticize the initiative as a political show that does not address root causes like affordable housing and mental health services. Operation SAFE has cleared multiple encampments with no arrests reported so far, and Key to Home has helped hundreds transition into housing. The effort is ongoing with no set end date, aiming to prevent new encampments and maintain safety and cleanliness on public lands. The initiative has received mixed reactions, with support from business leaders and some criticism from city officials and advocacy groups.