It’s no secret Oklahoma votes red. The Sooner State hasn’t backed a Democrat for president since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, and for more than half a century, Oklahomans have made their conservative identity clear at the ballot box. Now, that same identity is showing up in state policy, most recently in Governor Kevin Stitt’s launch of Operation SAFE, a statewide initiative aimed at addressing homeless encampments on state-owned property.
SAFE — short for Swift Action for Families Everywhere — began in Tulsa earlier this month. Partnering the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT), the program’s first order of business has been clearing encampments from highway underpasses and other rights-ofway. Crews have already removed more than 100 tons of trash in Tulsa, with no arrests reported.
At the heart of the program is a simple choice. OHP troopers approach individuals and offer two options: a ride to a shelter, treatment center, or housing program — or removal from the encampment, which could lead to jail if they refuse help and continue unlawful occupancy. State officials emphasize the goal is not incarceration or institutionalization but connection to services.
Governor Stitt has also highlighted Oklahoma’s ongoing investment in mental health services, addiction treatment beds, and partnerships with nonprofit providers. “We want to get people the help they need,” he said when announcing the program. “This is about safety, compassion, and keeping our communities strong.”
ODOT’s role is focused on cleanup and reclamation of state property. Encampments often leave behind trash, drug paraphernalia, and human waste, creating hazards for families and motorists. Clearing these areas, officials say, is as much about protecting the public as it is about assisting those in need.
Still, the approach has drawn criticism. Advocates point out that many shelters and treatment programs are already at capacity, leaving few immediate options. Others worry that linking relocation to the threat of jail risks criminalizing people who are already vulnerable. Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regalado said, “We can’t incarcerate ourselves out of homelessness,” while service providers have cautioned that sustainable solutions require longterm coordination and housing.
Supporters counter that Oklahoma is taking a proactive stance before problems seen in cities like Los Angeles, Portland, or San Francisco reach the Sooner State. They argue that Operation SAFE reflects Oklahoma’s conservative balance: addressing public safety while still offering compassion through state-backed resources.
As Operation SAFE expands beyond Tulsa, the question remains: will it become a red-state model for tackling homelessness with both enforcement and empathy, or will it expose the limits of state-led intervention when resources are already strained?
