Annual count of people experiencing homelessness in Indy finds 9% drop

The number of people experiencing homelessness in Indianapolis has dropped from last year’s point-in-time count, which was one of the highest in recent history.

This year, the count showed a 9 percent decrease in the number of people experiencing homelessness. A total of 1,761 people were found to be without a home on Jan. 24, 2022. In 2021 it was 1,928.

The tally is still higher than pre-COVID numbers. New methodology adopted during the pandemic has the survey being conducted again over a series of days, but asking about the single night.

The city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Center for Research on Inclusion and Social Policy, and the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention, or CHIP, partner to measure the data.

CHIP Executive Director Chelsea Haring-Cozzi said the count again finds more Black people experiencing homelessness. There was also a 27% increase in the number of families with children.

“And racial disproportionality becomes even more significant when we look at families,” Haring-Cozzi said.

There was a significant decrease—35 percent—in veterans homelessness. Targeted housing first strategies and added local and federal funding have helped increase the number of families permanently housed.

“Eager that a lot of the efforts and additional investments and resources last year to get people into permanent housing are paying off,” Haring-Cozzi said.

The data is used by the city and other organizations to determine where to best invest resources.