Tulsa Nonprofit Says Calls For Financial Help Up 600% Since March

A Tulsa nonprofit said more and more people need help paying for groceries, utilities and rent.

Not only are more people calling for help, each person who calls usually asks for help with more than one need.

Ashlie Casey, the Director for 211 Eastern Oklahoma, said their calls have gone up 600% since March.

Casey said referrals they’re providing are mainly regarding rent and housing assistance, and as more people seem to be staying inside because of COVID-19, utilities are also a huge need.

“Our heaters are running, our air conditioner is running, we have multiple generations living in one home,” Casey said.

Casey said they provide links to 1,600 different referral agencies and refer people to over 6,000 different services in 37 counties. However, most referrals are in Tulsa.

In October, 211 Eastern Oklahoma made 6,164 referrals for utility assistance, 4,844 referrals for housing assistance, and 3,556 referrals for food assistance.

Jeff Jaynes, the Executive Director for Restore Hope Ministries, said they’ve helped with rent assistance for the past 25 years and continue to do so during this pandemic with funds provided by the CARES Act.

Jaynes said their busiest year ever before COVID was last year, paying $305,000 in aid.

“Just in the last six months, we have helped more than $1.7 million in rent assistance,” Jaynes said.

Jaynes said that amount is likely to double in the next six weeks.

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