Nonprofits in Bartlesville Launch Initiatives to Combat Homelessness and Addiction
by Rian Stockett | Sat, April 26, 2025 at 6:59 PM
TULSA, OKLA. (KTUL) — Efforts are being made by nonprofits to address homelessness and substance abuse in Bartlesville.
"Somebody can only be here for 15 months. We're going to help you find resources, help you find a job. And you have to work to stay here. If you're not able to work, then you're not able to stay here," said Keith McPhail, Co-Founder of B the Light Mission.
Keith McPhail and Christy McPhail, who are both co-founders of B the Light Mission, say they’re looking to open what they’re calling a poverty reduction center in July.
"What we're building here is a transitional housing program that's going to allow people to transition from homelessness, drug addiction, various things like that, into independent living," said Mike Sorenson, the Program Director of Nehemiah Community Development about Room at the Inn, a Sober living program they're building in Bartlesville.
"The two of those programs, when they are up and running, will have more than enough beds for every single person who is currently living unsheltered and homeless in Bartlesville and just outside of Bartlesville," said Bartlesville City Councilor Aaron Kirkpatrick.
Kirkpatrick and Keith, and Christy McPhail are members of the City of Bartlesville’s Unsheltered Homeless Task Force, which was created in November to address the rise in unsheltered homelessness and associated issues in the City of Bartlesville.
This task force determined that there are about 50 to 60 unsheltered individuals within the Bartlesville city limits, and that just outside the city limits, that number could double.
Sorenson, however, says those numbers don’t represent everyone in Bartlesville who needs affordable housing.
"I know there's people who have been trying to assess the numbers. But just gauging by being out here in the community, we're constantly overwhelmed with a list of people that are needing affordable housing. Our waiting list is really long over at the cottages. And we've had—we are continually getting calls from people that say other places are full and there's no place for them. So I know there's a big need," said Sorenson.
Nehemiah Community Development currently offers affordable housing on 6th Street in Bartlesville, and the assistant property manager, Shelbie Spencer, says right now they have a waitlist of 18 to 26 people, and that people have been waiting on that list for years.
Which is why Spencer, who was hired while participating in one of their sober living programs, says she’s grateful more programs like this are being developed to help get people back on their feet.
"I think it's definitely something Bartlesville needs. We have a big problem with homelessness and people in addiction, and I think it's an amazing thing for people to actually see that and try to fix that. I think that's great," said Spencer.