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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe city of Indianapolis on Wednesday was awarded a record $6.3 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for initiatives and organizations that aim to eliminate homelessness.
The continuum of care grant funding, which is awarded annually, this year is expected to provide support to about 6,500 local programs across the country that serve individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
In Indiana, HUD awarded nearly $23.8 million that will support 89 programs across the state. More than $6.3 million of that will go to Indianapolis.
The funds are distributed annually, and the amount Indianapolis received this year is about 13% higher than in 2019, when the city was awarded more than $5.75 million.
Indianapolis organizations that were awarded program funds in this year’s round include Coburn Place ($1.16 million), the Damien Center ($436,644), the Julian Center ($376,526), Homeless Initiative Program ($725,532), Adult and Child ($534,139), CHIP ($136,878), Englewood Community Development Corp. ($100,608), Partners in Housing ($1.26 million), and Midtown Mental Health ($1.2 million).
Funding also went to the Homeless Management Information System, which is managed by CHIP, and to a planning grant for the city. Funding that was new this year—rather than being renewed from last year—included roughly $733,000 for Coburn Place that will assist victims of domestic violence.
The funding is highly competitive, HUD Midwest Regional Administrator Joseph P. Galvan said during a press conference Wednesday morning.
“Local agencies across Indiana have worked diligently to end homelessness, resulting in nearly a 15.2% reduction in overall homelessness since 2010,” he said. “We hope to keep the momentum going and are here to support agencies in their tireless efforts to end homelessness as we know it.”
The goal, including locally, is to make homelessness easier to escape. If the problem can’t be eliminated altogether, agencies and organizations want to ensure it’s rare, brief and not reoccurring.
During CHIP’s annual point-in-time count in 2019 (which takes place in cities across the country annually during the end of January and serves as a census of a city’s homeless population), 1,600 people were experiencing homelessness, meaning they were sleeping in temporary quarters, transitional housing or on the street. This year’s point-in-time count has already occurred and results are expected next month.
“The 13% increase in funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will go a long way in supporting our efforts to ensure homelessness in Indianapolis is rare, short-lived, and recoverable,” Mayor Joe Hogsett said in written comments. “One of the most exciting components of this year’s announcement is that the city received bonus funding for a project that focuses on one of our most vulnerable populations, victims of domestic violence. This latest round of grants ensures that incredible community organizations like Coburn Place receive program funding.”
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Watch it all go to waste.
I bet you are a great neighbor, Murray
Actually, I am. Thanks for ascertaining that from my critique of the governments ability (and reasonable role overall) to combat this issue. Thanks for pointing out how I attacked the virtue of the issue itself. I bet you’re the type of neighbor to get on nextdoor or your local facebook group and complain about mundane things and report “suspicious” activities of people who dont look like you who are doing nothing wrong, other than existing.
Still wondering when poverty will start to decline in the district.
Murray’s R you are correct. Waste of money but hey it makes the politicians feel better.
Right Murray and Rhea!
Yes. There is always the claim that there are no funds for the homeless. The money is wasted, and then the “do gooders” ask for more. None is given if someone is behind in their rent/mortgage to keep people housed. Once people are on the streets many homeless shelters get funding for “temporary” housing. When and if permanent housing is obtained people are usually placed in dangerous conditions/settings unless they have enough smarts to refuse and request suitable accommodations. The cycle of people not be accountable for themselves, and/or falling on hard times, and negotiating the endless politics and red tape to etch out a living continues. On on positive note I wish to thank St Vincent de Paul/Wheeler Mission and MANY other religious/nonreligious/social services and private individuals/organizations that do a great job of distributing goods and services for people in need without making one sign their name in blood and treating the needy with some dignity. AND most importantly making the dollars received put to very good use. Of course for some people it is a choice to live on the streets. Who knows what goes on in someone’s mind, but change definitely has to be desired. Indianapolis is a GREAT place to be homeless, but who in his/her right mind would want to be?