Stillwater mayor seeks community help for housing Oklahoma wildfire victims
Stillwater Mayor Will Joyce urges the community to assist in finding housing for those displaced by recent fires.
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Updated: 11:57 AM CDT Mar 22, 2025
KOCO OLIVIA HICKEY SPOKE WITH THE MAYOR HERE AT THE STILLWATER ARMORY. DONATIONS CONTINUE TO FLOOD WITH PANTRY STAPLES LIKE JELLY AND SAUCE. BUT NOW CITY OFFICIALS ARE ASKING FOR HELP FULFILLING ANOTHER NEED. HOUSING RIGHT NOW. MAYOR WILL JOYCE REPORTS NO ONE IS IN THE EMERGENCY SHELTERS. THEY ALL HAVE PLACES TO STAY, INCLUDING LISA AND ROGER JONES. THANKS TO THE KINDNESS OF FRIENDS. THEY’RE SET UNTIL THEIR NEW HOME IS COMPLETE. THEY CONTACTED A FRIEND WHO HAS SOME B&BS, AIRBNBS, WHO HAS DECIDED TO SWITCH THOSE OVER TO BE OFFERED TO FIRE VICTIMS SETTLED IN THERE. WE CAN STAY THERE UNTIL THE REBUILD IS DONE. BUT NOT EVERYONE HAS THE SAME RESOURCES. MAYOR JOYCE SAYS FINDING MORE LONG TERM HOUSING IS A CHALLENGE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE CITY SOON TO BE SO BUSY WITH CONCERTS AND GRADUATIONS. WE HAVE A LOT OF EVENTS HERE IN STILLWATER, SO WE’RE TRYING TO JUST MAKE SURE FOLKS HAVE A STABLE PLACE TO STAY SO THEY DON’T HAVE TO PACK UP AND MOVE, YOU KNOW, EVERY OTHER WEEK OR SO. WE ASKED HIM TO BREAK DOWN WHAT THIS NEED CAN LOOK LIKE. OUR CURRENT COUNT OF HOMES IN STILLWATER, AT LEAST IN THE STILLWATER AREA AND THE CLOSE VICINITY, IS ABOUT 96 HOMES THAT WERE TOTALLY DESTROYED BY THIS FIRE. ANOTHER ABOUT 120 TOTAL THAT WERE IMPACTED IN SOME WAY. SO WE’VE GOT, YOU KNOW, 100, 110, 115 FAMILIES JUST IN THE STILLWATER AREA THAT ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEPLACE ELSE TO LIVE RIGHT NOW. COUNTYWIDE, THAT NUMBER IS A LITTLE HIGHER. IT’S CLOSER TO 200. HE SAYS THE COMMUNITY HAS STEPPED UP WITH REALTORS IN THE AREA TO HELP SEARCH. PLUS, WITH THE COLLEGE SEMESTER WRAPPING UP, THAT CAN ADD MORE LIVING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES WHO NEED SEVERAL ROOMS. STILL, THE MAYOR SAYS MORE RESOURCES CAN HELP SOLVE THIS HOUSING PUZZLE THAT MAKES SENSE FOR ALL FAMILIES
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Stillwater mayor seeks community help for housing Oklahoma wildfire victims
Stillwater Mayor Will Joyce urges the community to assist in finding housing for those displaced by recent fires.
Stillwater Mayor Will Joyce is calling on the community to help find housing for residents displaced by fires that began over a week ago.At the Stillwater Armory, donations continue to flood in with pantry staples like jelly and sauce, but now city officials are asking for help fulfilling another need, housing.>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channelRight now, no one is in the emergency shelters – they all have places to stay, including Lisa and Roger Jones, thanks to the kindness of friends. They're set until their new home is complete."They contacted a friend who has some B& Bs, Airbnb’s, who has decided to switch these over to be offered to fire victims," Lisa Jones said. "We're settled in there. We can stay there until the rebuild is done.”But not everyone has the same resources. Joyce says finding more long-term housing is a challenge, especially with the city soon to be busy with concerts and graduations."We have a lot of events here in Stillwater, so we're just trying to make sure folks have a stable place to stay so they don't have to pack up and move around every other week or so," Joyce said."Our current counts of homes in Stillwater, at least in the Stillwater area close vicinity, is about 96 homes that were totally destroyed by this fire, about 120 in total that were impacted in some way," he added. "So, we've got 110, 115 families just in Stillwater that are looking for some place else to live right now. Countywide that number is higher; it's closer to 200.”Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.Joyce says the community has stepped up with realtors in the area helping with the rental search. Plus, with the college semester wrapping up, that can add more living opportunities for families who need several rooms. Still, Joyce says more resources can help solve this housing puzzle that makes sense for all families impacted.If you need help in finding housing, or if you have a space for someone to go or even essentials like furnishings to donate, email stillwaterstrongrelief@gmail.com.Top HeadlinesFight outside of metro concert leaves one man dead, according to policeSaturday’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament schedule: Game times and matchupsTwo people injured after shooting inside of club, police sayTeen killed after being hit by car, police say possibly intentionalOklahoma City businesses stepping up after bar closed due to fire
STILLWATER, Okla. —
Stillwater Mayor Will Joyce is calling on the community to help find housing for residents displaced by fires that began over a week ago.
At the Stillwater Armory, donations continue to flood in with pantry staples like jelly and sauce, but now city officials are asking for help fulfilling another need, housing.
Right now, no one is in the emergency shelters – they all have places to stay, including Lisa and Roger Jones, thanks to the kindness of friends. They're set until their new home is complete.
"They contacted a friend who has some B& Bs, Airbnb’s, who has decided to switch these over to be offered to fire victims," Lisa Jones said. "We're settled in there. We can stay there until the rebuild is done.”
But not everyone has the same resources. Joyce says finding more long-term housing is a challenge, especially with the city soon to be busy with concerts and graduations.
"We have a lot of events here in Stillwater, so we're just trying to make sure folks have a stable place to stay so they don't have to pack up and move around every other week or so," Joyce said.
"Our current counts of homes in Stillwater, at least in the Stillwater area close vicinity, is about 96 homes that were totally destroyed by this fire, about 120 in total that were impacted in some way," he added. "So, we've got 110, 115 families just in Stillwater that are looking for some place else to live right now. Countywide that number is higher; it's closer to 200.”
Joyce says the community has stepped up with realtors in the area helping with the rental search. Plus, with the college semester wrapping up, that can add more living opportunities for families who need several rooms.
Still, Joyce says more resources can help solve this housing puzzle that makes sense for all families impacted.
If you need help in finding housing, or if you have a space for someone to go or even essentials like furnishings to donate, email stillwaterstrongrelief@gmail.com.
