Volunteers preparing for Lawton’s I Count campaign

Volunteers in the community are preparing for the annual I Count Campaign on Oct. 11.

The “point-in-time” count is an effort to identify the number of homeless military veterans in Lawton, drawing participation from nonprofit organizations, churches, veterans groups, state and local government agencies, and Fort Sill units. The local event is part of a nationwide effort to provide essential services, resources and support to homeless veterans in the region, said Thomas Moreland, center manager, Oklahoma Works Lawton Office.

Although all homeless people will be counted, the goal of “I Count” is to capture an accurate count of all the homeless veterans in Lawton, so they can qualify for public and VA support. Chief among that assistance is housing, rent, utilities, security and moving, through Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Moreland said data collected during the 2024 count also will help make Southwest Oklahoma eligible for future VA programs designed to prevent homelessness among the nation’s veterans.

The event kicks off with the Stand Down for Homeless Veterans, which will begin at 6:30 a.m. Oct. 11 at Centenary United Methodist Church, 704 SW D. Two meals will be provided: breakfast at 6:30 a.m. and lunch at 11:30 a.m. Services also will be provided to veterans: clothing, haircuts, toiletries, shelter and housing assistance, help with veterans benefits, employment assistance, dental and medical screening, mental health and substance abuse treatment options, and legal assistance. Native American tribal representatives also will be present to provide assistance.

In addition to the Centenary Methodist Church site, Lawton Support Services Homeless Veterans Outreach will be headquartered at St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church, 1504 SW N.H. Jones Avenue, from 7:30 a.m. to noon. Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Moreland and others say the count reflects a fact about Comanche County: it has a high concentration of military veterans. “I Count” organizers said Lawton-Comanche County is expected to be the second largest concentration of homeless veterans in Oklahoma, with only the Oklahoma City area having more.

Preparations under way by the “I Count” committee include identifying concentrations of homeless in camps, small group sites, shelters and in daytime venues, such as feeding and support sites. They also are taking tips from the community and homeless veterans themselves, who are asked to call the Homeless Hotline at (580) 595-0636.

Residents also are reminded that the definition of homeless isn’t limited to those who are living on the street or other places not intended for habitation. The definition includes anyone who lacks a regular, fixed, stable nighttime residence, which can mean someone sleeping on a friend’s or family member’s couch temporarily, Moreland said.

Veterans are defined as those who have at least 180 days of regular active duty service and were honorably discharged or released; or have at least 90 days of active duty service, at least one day of which was during wartime (World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama and Persian Gulf) and were honorably discharged or released.

Data gathered during “I Count” will be collated by the Lawton Housing Authority to eliminate duplications, then used to identify the number of homeless, their locations, family members who may be with them, and whether they are veterans. Generic details will be released publicly after the information is finalized. The committee and help agencies will use the data to assess the needs of the homeless and begin matching needs to services, Moreland said.