This is the first article in a series on the homeless population in Norman. View the accompanying photo essay here.

Photo by Ajit Bhand. The Thompson family inside their transitional housing at Food and Shelter for Friends.

by Ajit Bhand

At 8 a.m., dark clouds were already gathering outside to signal another gloomy day full of rain. A baby carriage came to a halt, and the solitary passenger seemed perturbed. At the front of the line, a young boy in a green Incredible Hulk t-shirt was greeted by a friendly voice.

“Does the Hulk like cookies?” The boy smiled and answered in the affirmative.

It was breakfast time at Food and Shelter For Friends, and for Jonicia and Steven Thompson and their three kids, Michelle (Masha), 6, Steven Jr., 5, and, Krista (the passenger in the stroller), 9 months, it was the beginning of a busy day.

Although most people do not associate extreme poverty, hunger and homelessness with Norman, the Thompsons are just one of many homeless families in the city.

The most recent Point in Time homelessness survey found 617 homeless individuals comprising 458 households in Cleveland County. Of those, 190 single adults and 131 families with minor children lived in emergency shelters or supportive housing programs, and 196 single adults and 30 families lived on the streets or in parks, cars, and other locations not intended as homes.

“Many of these persons are no different than Cleveland County residents with permanent housing,” said Lisa Krieg, City of Norman Grants Planner, “except that when faced with a financial crisis, they had neither the personal savings nor family support to enable them to maintain safe and adequate shelter.”

According to a statement by the city of Norman, “The face of homelessness has changed from that of a decade ago. Homelessness is no longer just a problem of single men with substance abuse problems in urban centers. The majority of homeless persons today are family members, and nearly two out of five are under 18 years of age.”

The Thompsons arrived in Oklahoma from Texas, where they said the situation was more dire.

“Things were really bad there,” Steven said. “We were sleeping on the floor.” He said they didn’t have many resources in Texas to help find jobs and low cost housing.

“You are stuck there. Some people I know had lived in a shelter for two years.”

The family arrived in Norman a couple weeks ago after a brief stay at a shelter in Oklahoma City. Natalie Gardner, Homeless Services Coordinator at FSFF, noted that she had seen them walking around with the kids. Even though they had applied for shelter housing, it was full with a waiting list.

“It was only because of their desperate situation and the size of their family that they were able to get an apartment at the shelter,” Gardner said.

Steven now has a job at Taco Mayo. While he works during the day, Jonicia is trying to find a place for them in the community.

“Today’s going to be a busy day,” she said. “We’re going to ride the bus around town. I have to go to the Norman Housing Authority, get the kids enrolled in a public school, look for daycare and for jobs.”

The shelter can only offer transitional housing for families while they look for something permanent.

“We have three main objectives for people who come to the shelter: permanent housing, increased income, and greater self-sufficiency,” Gardner said. “You just don’t spend your life thinking you’ll get by on subsidized housing. Eventually, people have to stand on their feet.”

Both Steven and and Jonicia acknowledged the help of the shelter staff.

“People are friendlier and more welcoming here, and the shelter people are helping us with everything,” Jonicia said.

But with limited resources to provide the support that many families need to escape the streets, not everyone is so lucky.

“As a personal problem, homelessness is dehumanizing for adults and terrifying for children,” said Elaine Hunter, executive director of HumanKindness and homelessness consultant for the City of Norman. “As a societal problem, homelessness merits public and private attention and resources, because it affects not only those who experience it, but also those who live in communities where homelessness is allowed to exist.”

As we waited at the bus stop, there was a break in the clouds, and the sun briefly illuminated the faces of Masha and Steven Jr. playing in the nearby alleyway.

“It is a new beginning for us,” Steven said. It was hopefully the start of a journey towards a place they can truly call home.

Food and Shelter for Friends welcomes volunteers who can help serve meals, work in the community garden, answer phones, or help with many other projects. To volunteer at FSFF, call (405) 360-4954 and ask for Kara Joy McKee.

They also accept donations of money, food, clothes, household items, and furniture. Donation information is available on their website, http://www.foodandshelterforfriends.org.