Counting the Invisible: Why Rural Homelessness Stays Hidden

For the first time, Ada is building a day center where people who are homeless have a place to hang out and to get resources, a reflection of a trend in rural Oklahoma of more people having a harder time staying in stable housing.

Sarah Frye, director of Ada Homeless Services, views the center as a positive move by directly addressing a community problem rather than being in denial. It provides a safe shelter for vulnerable people and gives the nonprofit a central place for outreach.

A bonus will be getting more accurate data on how many people are homeless in the city of about 16,500 residents.