“I’m proud of the work that’s been done here.” HUD Deputy Secretary visits Indianapolis to understand outreach to unhoused

The Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary visited Indianapolis for the city’s annual Point-in-Time count.

The count is a snapshot of the number of people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January throughout the city.

Last year, Indianapolis recorded an 8 percent drop in the number of people without a home during one night in January.

Those numbers are in stark contrast to the 12 percent increase in homelessness nationwide.

Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman said her visit to the city was to understand what Indianapolis is doing differently compared with other parts of the country.

“I’m so proud of the work that’s been done here by the Mayor and the continuity of care in reducing homelessness and I’m going to take what I learn here back to D.C.,” she said.

The nationwide spike has been attributed to both soaring rents and a decline in coronavirus pandemic assistance.

Chelsea Haring-Cozzi is the Executive Director of the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention (CHIP). She said that while Indianpolis saw declines in overall homelessness there was a 77% increase in unsheltered homelessness.

“That is important data because it helps us direct interventions and resources,” she said.

In order to help better serve people experiencing homelessness, Indianapolis has proposed a “housing hub” or low-barrier shelter to help connect people to resources and provide shelter.

A bill moving through the legislature may endanger that effort.

Ahead of the Point in Time count, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett assured volunteers that the hub would still be happening.

“It will become a reality,” he told the crowd.

Hogsett attributed last year's drop in homelessness to the many community partners including CHIP and Horizon House.

“It takes a village and frankly we have a great village of committed people here in Indianapolis,” he said.

Data from last year’s count was released last fall. Hogsett said this year’s data will likely be available within a similar timeframe.