Indianapolis Falls Short of 2018 Goal to End Long-Term Homelessness

An article in Mirror Indy describes how the city and local organizations in Indianapolis are working to build supportive housing facilities that offer wraparound services to unhoused residents that can help them transition into more stable housing. “Despite success with supportive housing projects that bring people out of homelessness and provide a safe place to work through issues, Indianapolis fell short of an ambitious goal set by stakeholders six years ago.” 

The goal was to end homelessness longer than 30 days by 2023. But in January 2024, the number of people experiencing homelessness counted in the city stood at 1,701. Meanwhile, it can take up to 90 days for housing voucher recipients to access housing. The city is maintaining its efforts to build supportive housing while also working with landlords to make more existing housing units available to people using vouchers. 

The city is attempting to take a ‘Housing First’ approach, a strategy that prioritizes getting people into housing as soon as possible while providing access to supportive services. “There’s local evidence that shows permanent supportive housing works. Leaders at DMD, CHIP, and Horizon House all said retention rates are higher than the national average — above 90 percent.” 

Officials say complicated funding streams and a “tough environment to do development” slowed the city’s progress. The local housing authority is also in the process of being reorganized “after years of mismanagement and dysfunction.”