Upward Transitions provides specialized programs and case management to help meet basic social needs of the most vulnerable in the community. This Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits’ Standard of Excellence Certified organization assists Oklahoma County families and individuals who are struggling with homelessness and at risk of losing their homes and stability as well as stranded travelers in crisis.
Through its Community Outreach Program, Upward Transitions prevents families with minor children and seniors from losing their housing through eviction due to unpaid rent and utilities. In 2023, 17,868 evictions were filed in Oklahoma County. There were judgements against 8,602 households resulting in evictions of approximately 21,500 individuals, and 61 percent of those evictions were households with children. Upward Transitions provides one-time assistance to families and seniors who qualify to prevent them from experiencing the crisis of homelessness due to eviction. Its success rate with homeless prevention has been consistently more successful than national rates.
Upward Transitions also assists people experiencing homelessness with obtaining their identifying documents, such as birth certificates and state IDs. A study completed by the Homeless Hub found 70% of individuals experiencing homelessness did not have access to these crucial documents. Without identification, they cannot obtain employment, housing, or social services.
The organization’s services extend to Oklahoma City Housing Authority (OCHA) Deposits for those who qualify for public housing as well as assisting existing clients with transportation to job interviews, medical appointments, and social services. Victims of domestic violence and human trafficking and stranded travelers may receive emergency travel assistance to a safe, secure destination with someone they trust waiting for them; and an annual holiday “Calendar of Sharing” event stocks Upward Transitions’ pantry with winter supplies for clients who do not have warm clothing, basic food, or personal care supplies.
Working closely with its vast network of local agencies, Upward Transitions capitalizes on all possible resources for its clients and strives to refer anyone with needs outside of its own special programs. A United Way of Central Oklahoma Community Partner since its inception, the organization partners with 50+ local nonprofits to make sure no stone is left unturned to assist its neighbors.
Originally founded as the Travelers Aid Society in 1925 by a group of 12 women with a $3,600 allocation from the Community Chest (now United Way of Central Oklahoma), the organization assisted stranded travelers at Santa Fe Station and expanded its services to Union Railroad Station and the downtown bus station in 1951.
In 1973, the organization established an information booth at Will Rogers World Airport with 11 Travelers Aid volunteers. In 1987, Travelers Aid Society began additional services to assist those experiencing homelessness, and in 2008, Travelers Aid Society changed its name to Upward Transitions. Today, the organization operates the Travelers Aid information booth program at OKC Will Rogers International Airport with 38 volunteers, and from its office near downtown Oklahoma City, Upward Transitions works to fulfill its’ mission “to prevent poverty through community collaboration, emergency relief and empowerment, therefore inspiring hope with our neighbors experiencing housing instability.”
In its fiscal year of 2024, with a staff of just 12, Upward Transitions assisted 4,025 people in 2,802 households including 1,084 children, and the organization’s Travelers Aid volunteers at OKC Will Rogers International Airport dedicated nearly 6,400 hours to assisting 152,790 visitors.
