City Of Tulsa Program Helps People In Danger Of Losing Homes Because Of Tax Debt

A Tulsa man is grateful after a City of Tulsa program helped him keep his house by using COVID relief money to pay the taxes he owed on the home he’s lived in for decades.

The city pays up to $4,000 to people who qualify, and August is the last month of the program.

Robert Ward says this program is the reason he didn’t end up homeless, and he encourages others to apply.

Ward moved to his house in Tulsa when he was in the second grade and has been here ever since.

"Those two trees down there, I've been climbing since I was seven or eight years old,” said Ward.

Ward got behind on his property taxes in 2020 because he's been ill and was in danger of losing his home this year.

He saw a story on News On 6 about the Saving Our Homes Initiative through the city and decided to apply.

"Being homeless, I just can't imagine being sick and being homeless too,” said Ward. “And I got to have another surgery in January."

He says that no longer having the stress of losing his home has improved his health.

"I don't think I'll fall behind again, and the stress was worse than the reality of it,” said Ward. “Just worrying about it, and every year the same thing happened. Because all I was ever able to pay was the most delinquent year."

Ward’s glad the city has this program and says $3,300 kept him from becoming homeless.

"The homelessness is ridiculous when just a little bit of money helps these people stay in their homes rather than living on the streets and being a burden on every single help there is,” said Ward.

He hopes people who think they’re eligible will also get help.

"I think it will help a lot of the people that fell behind just because of COVID,” said Ward. “A lot of people lost work. When you fall behind on those taxes, even if it's just a half a year, those fees build up."

The deadline to apply is August 31st and you can do that and learn more information about the initiative here.