The political theater in Washington has real consequences in Oklahoma’s eviction courts.
Eboney Mitchell sat outside the courtroom flipping through the fees that had turned her $1,300 rent into a $3,000 nightmare. She lost her daycare subsidy. Then her job. Then her apartment.
She’s not alone. A recent survey found that 73% of people facing eviction in Oklahoma County believed the loss of SNAP benefits directly caused their housing crisis. Fifty-seven percent had those benefits cut off on Nov. 1 when federal child care subsidies and food assistance were slashed during the government shutdown.
The math is brutal. A family of four expecting $994 for food instead got $646. That $347 shortfall means the rent doesn’t get paid.
“If you’re in eviction court, it’s probably not the only adversity you’re facing that week,” said Brad Senters, who mediates eviction cases. “One bill comes out of nowhere and it’s a snowball effect of just destroying a budget that’s already really tight.”
Property manager Trey Parker filed 45 eviction notices in a single day in November. Many tenants weren’t even named in the filings — Parker said he does that to give them a break so an eviction won’t appear on their record. But it also means he has no legal recourse if they can’t pay.
More than seven out of 10 extremely low-income Oklahoma renters already spend more than half their income on rent. With more cuts coming and another possible shutdown looming, housing advocates say the wave of evictions is just beginning.
Ben Fenwick’s story has all the details.
More worth reading:
Study Examines High Rate of Alzheimer’s in Native Americans
A 2024 NIH study found that 54 percent of older American Indians now have some degree of cognitive impairment, a significantly higher rate compared to the general population. Cognitive impairment can be a precursor to dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. A dearth of donated brains hampers research. [PBS]
Former CEO Indicted
The former CEO of a Lindsay bank is facing a grand jury indictment charging him over allegations he conspired to commit bank fraud that included issuing loans to friends and neighbors without paying back the debt. [The Oklahoman ▲]
State Agencies Ask for 14.2% More
State agencies are asking for a 14.2% increase in appropriations for the next fiscal year, with some attributable to expected reductions in federal funds. Budget requests for FY 2027 total $13.31 billion, according to the website, compared to actual FY 2026 appropriations of $11.64 billion. [Tulsa World ▲]
▲=Possible paywall
Happy 80th birthday to Lexington native Harold Hamm.
Ciao for now,
Ted Streuli
Executive Director, Oklahoma Watch
tstreuli@oklahomawatch.org
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