Foreword

Every question in this book represents a young person — a teenager sleeping in a car behind a convenience store, a child starting the school day without knowing where they’ll spend the night, a young adult who has aged out of foster care with no safety net to fall back on. Each one is a life full of potential, navigating circumstances no one should face alone.

Here in Oklahoma, we are facing a youth homelessness crisis that is too often invisible. The state’s most recent data show that more than 26,600¹ students in public schools lack stable housing, and that includes children who are doubled up with friends, living in motels, shelters, or temporary spaces. More than 1,200 unaccompanied youth² are enrolled in schools without a parent or guardian to rely on. And on a single night in 2024, there were about 450 young people under the age of 24³ counted as homeless across our state — a number that has grown by nearly 40 percent⁴ since 2019. Recent numbers show 6,409 preschool students were experiencing homelessness in 2024.

Yet, there are only 329 beds⁵ dedicated to housing these youth in all of Oklahoma. For most, the choice is not between two good options — it’s between danger and uncertainty. That’s where this Homeless Youth Handbook comes in. It is not a policy paper or a brochure; it’s a lifeline. Within these pages are the answers to questions young people in crisis ask every day:

“Can I enroll in school without a parent?”
“Can I get health care?”
“What happens if I’m turned away from a shelter?”⁶

The creation of this Handbook was an act of collective care. It exists because hundreds of people including lawyers, advocates, service providers, and volunteers gave their time, skill, and heart to make it possible. Thousands of pro bono hours from the legal teams at Baker McKenzie, Helmerich & Payne, Williams Company, and Oklahoma Appleseed transformed complex laws into clear, practical information that can be used by young people and those who support them. Their work is a testament to what happens when the legal community shows up for justice beyond the courtroom.

Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law and Justice is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to advancing justice and opportunity for every Oklahoman. As a proud member of the Appleseed Network, we work to dismantle systemic barriers through education justice, youth justice, criminal justice, and election justice initiatives. Our vision is bold: a vibrant, inclusive future where laws protect rather than harm, and where every person has the chance to thrive. From advoc ating for fair policies to creating practical resources like this Homeless Youth Handbook, Oklahoma Appleseed stands at the intersection of law and compassion — ensuring that legal knowledge becomes a tool for empowerment, not a barrier. Learn more about our work and how you can get involved at www.okappleseed.org.

At Helmerich & Payne, the world’s largest and longest-operating drilling and technology company, we’re proud to call many places home — and we’re dedicated to giving back to each one. We know our success depends on strong, sustainable relationships with our neighbors, which is why we invest in programs that reflect our core values. Through these efforts, we aim to enhance quality of life, support local growth and create lasting economic opportunities in the communities where we live and work. We are H&P. Expect Excellence.
Learn more about H&P at www.hpinc.com.

Williams (NYSE: WMB) is a trusted energy industry leader committed to safely, reliably, and responsibly meeting growing energy demand. We use our infrastructure to deliver one third of the nation’s natural gas to where it's needed most, supplying the energy used to heat our homes, cook our food and generate low-carbon electricity. For over a century, we’ve been driven by a passion for doing things the right way. Today, our team of problem solvers is leading the charge into the clean energy future.
Learn more at www.williams.com.

Baker McKenzie leverages its network of 70+ offices to address some of the world’s most pressing social justice challenges. We bring together problem-solvers from across the Firm and from our corporate partners to make a meaningful impact, regularly collaborating with in-house legal teams to expand our collective reach. Our work includes direct representation, impact litigation, policy and advocacy efforts, building new legal resources, and addressing complex legal questions for the world’s leading non-profits, public policy institutions, and international NGOs. Learn more about our Firm’s commitment to pro bono at www.bakermckenzie.com/en/aboutus/pro-bono.

Together, we believe that the law should never be a barrier — it should be a tool for protection and empowerment. We know that when young people understand their rights, they gain more than information; they gain agency, confidence, and the ability to imagine a different future.

To the young people reading this: you are not invisible. You have rights, and you deserve to be safe, housed, and supported.

To those who serve them — teachers, social workers, shelter staff, and advocates — may this Handbook be a tool in your hands and a reminder of what’s possible when compassion meets knowledge.

Our hope is that this resource becomes more than a guide; that it sparks new policies, partnerships, and public will. Because every youth in Oklahoma deserves not just a roof, but a home — not just survival, but a future filled with possibility.

With gratitude and hope,

Colleen McCarty, Esq.
Executive Director
Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law & Justice

Cara Hair
Senior Vice President, Corporate Services
Chief Legal and Compliance Officer
Helmerich & Payne

Karissa Cottom
Vice President
Assistant General Counsel - Litigation, Operations, Services & PAC
Williams Company

Michelle Hartmann
Managing Partner, Texas Offices
Co-Chair North American Litigation Trial Team
Baker McKenzie

[1] Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, Homeless Children and Youth Steering Committee Annual Report 2024, p. 6. Available at: https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/occy/office-of-planning-and-coordination/2025/HCYSC-2024-Annual-Report.pdf; The Oklahoman, “Oklahoma sees growing number of homeless youth, advocates call for support,” (Oct. 14, 2025).

[2] National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE), State Profile: Oklahoma (2021–22). Available at: Student Homelessness in America - School Years 2019-20 to 2021-22.

[3] U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), 2024 Point-in-Time Count Data, Oklahoma.

[4] Id.

[5] The Frontier, “Nowhere to Go: Oklahoma’s growing number of homeless youth have few options,” Feb. 2025.

[6] OCCY 2024 Annual Report, Appendix Table 1, “Homeless Preschool-Aged Children, by County.” Supra at note 1.