Path to Home: Tulsa Day Center Breaks Ground on New Animal Shelter

5/31/2024

The Tulsa Day Center broke ground on May 31, 2024, on a new animal shelter that will accommodate up to 10 animals, allowing their owners to access the day and night shelter at the Day Center.

Currently, those experiencing homelessness with animals must either bring their pet in a carrier or remain with them outside. The new animal shelter at the Day Center will have room for five large animals and five small animals, most of which are expected to be dogs.

"For many of our friends experiencing homelessness, their pets play a pivotal role in their emotional and physical wellbeing," said Day Center CEO Mack Haltom. "We don't ever want to see someone choosing between shelter for themselves or staying with their companion animal. This shelter will address this barrier, and we expect it to be one more tool in our work to help people find safe, stable and affordable housing."

The shelter, designed by Blue Star Integrative and to be built by AC Owen Construction, is expected to open in fall of 2024. The project is part of the City of Tulsa's Path to Home Initiative, which pulls together the many efforts being made by multiple organizations to address homelessness.

"The Tulsa Day Center Animal Shelter is a perfect example of the way Tulsans come up with innovative ideas to solve our city's most pressing challenges," said Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum. "I am glad this project will soon be in place which will have a significant impact for individuals experiencing homelessness."

Although the construction of the shelter has been funded through grants and donations, the ongoing operations of the shelter will be supported through the Day Center's operating funds. Cash donations may be made at tulsadaycenter.org/donate and pet supplies like dog food and medications will be accepted at the Tulsa Day Center's location at 415 W Archer St.

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About Path to Home
The new animal shelter is made possible through ARPA funding from the City of Tulsa. City funding for the project is made possible by broader efforts made by the City's 3H Task Force and Path to Home Initiative. Path to Home is a three-part initiative that serves as a central source for all programming related to housing, homelessness, and mental health that is more easily recognizable and representative of the cumulative work taking place within the city of Tulsa.