The Highway Out of Homelessness,

or the Highway Out of Here

A Comprehensive Solution to Bartlesville’s Homelessness Crisis

At its core, this plan is about compassion and accountability—offering real help to those who want to improve their circumstances while ensuring that Bartlesville remains a safe, thriving community for all residents.

The Highway Out of Homelessness or the Highway Out of Here is a two-part solution designed to tackle our city’s growing homelessness problem through a coordinated effort that brings together our non-profits, helping organizations, churches, law enforcement, and the homeless community. Below, you’ll find the detailed steps of this comprehensive policy and how it works.

Step 1: Coordinating Our Resources

Bartlesville is blessed with many incredible organizations dedicated to helping those in need. However, these efforts are often siloed, meaning each organization is focused on its specific mission without coordinating with others. This leads to inefficiencies and missed opportunities to make real progress in moving individuals out of homelessness.

The solution starts with creating a Volunteer Action Team composed of leaders from:

  • Non-profits

  • Helping orgs

  • Churches

  • Law enforcement

  • Members of the homeless community

This team will work together to un-silo our efforts, ensuring that all resources—from food assistance to mental health support—are coordinated in a way that moves people from homelessness into stable housing as efficiently as possible, supporting people as they navigate their unique challenges. The team will create a system where individuals enter a structured pathway with clear steps for improving their situation, referred to as the highway out of homelessness.

3. Accountability and the Three-Strike Rule

Accountability is crucial for this system to work. In addition to the new ordinances, we will implement a three-strike rule for individuals who refuse to engage with the system. Here’s how it works:

  • Tracking Non-Compliance: A reporting system will be developed that allows non-profits and other service providers to check if an individual has unresolved citations for violating the new ordinances (such as illegal camping or panhandling).

  • Three Strikes: If an individual receives three or more citations for failing to comply with the ordinances, they will no longer be eligible to receive services from non-profits or other helping organizations. This will effectively cut off free resources for those choosing not to participate in the highway out of homelessness.

This rule is designed to encourage individuals to choose the path of recovery and stability, rather than remaining stuck in a cycle of homelessness. It ensures that our resources are directed to those who are committed to improving their lives.

4. A Holistic Approach: The Carrot and the Stick

This policy balances compassion with accountability, often referred to as the “carrot and stick” approach:

  • The Carrot: The highway out of homelessness is the support system that helps individuals access the resources they need—whether it’s housing, job training, mental health services, or addiction recovery. We are offering every opportunity for those willing to take it.

  • The Stick: For those who refuse to engage or continue to break the law, there’s the highway out of here. By cutting off access to resources and enforcing these ordinances, we will encourage those who do not want to improve their situation to move on.

5. Legal Precedent and Community Support

This plan isn’t just theoretical—it’s been proven in other cities. Austin, Texas, has implemented similar policies with success, and our proposed ordinances are legal under Oklahoma law. We are not reinventing the wheel, but adapting a solution that works.

I have already spoken with non-profit leaders, church pastors, police officers, and even members of the homeless community who support this plan. They recognize that it’s a compassionate way to help those in need while also protecting the safety and integrity of our city.

6. Moving Forward: A Call to Action

This isn’t just a policy—it’s a solution that I’m ready to implement. The volunteer team is ready to be assembled, and with the support of city officials, non-profits, and our law enforcement, we can get to work immediately.

If you believe in this plan and want to learn more, please email me at Aaronforward4@gmail.com or watch the video for further details. Together, we can create a future where Bartlesville is a compassionate city that provides real solutions and remains a safe place for all its residents.

This policy is not about punishing people—it’s about giving them the freedom to comply with the law or take responsibility for their actions. These ordinances are designed to help our homeless neighbors by guiding them toward the services they need, while maintaining the safety and cleanliness of our public spaces.

Here’s how the ordinances will work in three phases:

Phase 1: Education and Outreach

In the first phase, law enforcement and community outreach teams will focus on education. This phase is all about helping individuals understand the new rules—like where they can and can’t camp—and encouraging them to voluntarily comply. During this phase, police will issue verbal warnings, and individuals will be directed to local resources such as shelters or service providers.

Phase 2: Written Warnings and Community Service

As the ordinances take effect, those who continue to camp in public areas or engage in aggressive panhandling or dumpster diving will receive written warnings. However, this isn’t about handing out fines or putting people in jail. Instead, individuals who receive warnings will be offered community service options to fulfill their obligations and work toward participating in the healthy life of our community.

Phase 3: Citations and Legal Action

If individuals fail to comply after receiving warnings, they will receive citations, but even at this stage, the goal is to avoid harsh penalties. Citations will only become misdemeanors if the person refuses to comply not just with the police, but also with court orders. This gives individuals multiple opportunities to correct their behavior and engage with the system. Even if a misdemeanor is issued, it’s not about jail time or fines—it’s about cutting off access to free city services.

Misdemeanors Roll Off After Six Months

To ensure this policy is fair and compassionate, misdemeanors will roll off an individual’s record after six months, provided they’ve complied with any court-ordered community service or other requirements. This means that individuals who engage with the process and work toward improving their situation won’t be penalized long-term. It gives them the freedom to reset and rebuild their lives without carrying a permanent mark on their record.

Step 2: New Ordinances

While Bartlesville is known for its generosity, we have seen a growing number of individuals choosing homelessness as a lifestyle. This is where accountability comes in. We will propose new ordinances to address specific issues related to homelessness, such as:

  • Prohibiting public camping in non-designated areas to keep parks, sidewalks, and streets safe and accessible for everyone.

  • Restricting aggressive panhandling, particularly in sensitive areas like near schools, businesses, and busy intersections.

  • Prohibiting dumpster diving behind businesses and private residences.

These ordinances will be modeled after successful policies in cities like Austin, Texas, where public camping and aggressive solicitation are classified as misdemeanors. This gives law enforcement the legal authority to engage with homeless individuals and guide them to the appropriate services.