Indy effort to end chronic homelessness marks 200 move-in milestone
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios
A coordinated push to eliminate chronic homelessness in Indianapolis by 2028 has moved hundreds of Hoosiers into new homes since last summer.
Why it matters: Indy's unsheltered population is nearing pandemic-era levels after two consecutive years of increases, and advocates say those individuals are facing new obstacles in the form of a statewide ban on public camping that took effect this month.
Driving the news: Leaders from the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention (CHIP Indy) on Wednesday provided an update on Streets to Home Indy, a public-private partnership that launched in July 2025.
The latest: As of July 6, more than 200 people were housed, and a total of seven homeless encampments and three downtown zones where unsheltered individuals lived have been closed.
- The average time it takes to place someone in a unit through the program is now 26 days, a slight improvement from the 27-day average reported in March.
- Prior to Streets to Home, the process took between 100 and 150 days.
Yes, but: As the end of year one approaches, the initiative remains short of its goal to house between 300 and 350 people over 12 months.
- Streets to Home Indy began closing encampments in August.
Zoom in: In an email to Axios, a CHIP spokesperson said they've learned that the process becomes more complex when working with larger, more established encampments.
- Some residents need accessible units that are difficult to secure. Others need intensive clinical or behavioral-health support.
- They added that they expect the number of people housed to keep growing as they work to hit their goal for the first phase.
What they're saying: "When a community comes together around a shared goal of rapidly connecting individuals to housing and services, the results are transformational," Chelsea Haring-Cozzi, CEO of CHIP Indy, said in a statement.
Between the lines: Also in play is Senate Enrolled Act 285, which makes camping or sleeping on public property illegal.
- After an initial warning and information on available services, offenders could face a misdemeanor charge, a maximum $500 fine, and up to 60 days in jail.
- There is an exemption if local shelters are full.
By the numbers: Phase 1 is an $8.1 million commitment funded by $2.7 million from the city, $2.7 million from the Housing to Recovery Fund and $2.7 million from corporate, faith-based and philanthropic donors.
- The cost to establish one household through Streets to Home is about $21,000.
What's next: Phase 2 will focus on working with shelter providers to address those chronically stuck in the shelter system and to increase rehousing capacity.