Large fire at center for unhoused veterans displaces over 50 people

A large fire displaced 51 people at a community center and living facility for unhoused veterans in the 900 block of North Pennsylvania Avenue Saturday night.

Firefighters with the Indianapolis Fire Department rescued 18 people from inside the Colonel Donald W. Moreau, Sr. Veterans Community Center, which serves as the central hub for the nonprofit Helping Veterans and Families of Indiana (HVAF). Three people were transported to Eskenazi Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

The Indianapolis Fire Department, alongside the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, is investigating the cause of the fire.

Last year, according to their website, HVAF served over 1,300 veterans and is the largest nonprofit provider of comprehensive services for veterans facing homelessness in Indiana.

The community center helps veterans facing homelessness in Central Indiana by providing food, clothing, and hygiene items, including access to a computer lab, meeting space, and library.

To aid those affected, IndyGo provided two buses to temporarily shelter the occupants at the scene. Additionally, the Red Cross assisted in securing hotel accommodations for displaced residents, according to a media release from the Indianapolis Fire Department.

Farrah Anderson is an Investigative Health Reporter at WFYI and Side Effects Public Media. Contact her at fanderson@wfyi.org. Follow her on X @farrahsoa.