Indianapolis Residents Could Wait Years For Housing Voucher

A new national report looks at how long families wait for a housing voucher. In Indianapolis the wait time can be over four years.

The Indianapolis Housing Agency runs the housing voucher program and served more than 8,300 households last year. According to the analysis from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, CBPP, people waited an average of 50 months for a voucher.

CBPP President Sharon Parrott said the pandemic has heightened the need for rental assistance and it should be a priority in any recovery legislation.

“Particularly housing vouchers that are highly effective in helping households afford housing that they choose,” Parrott said.

Vouchers have been shown to reduce homelessness and improve wellbeing.

Parrott said the research shows disparities in housing.

“This burden falls heavily on renters of color who are substantially more likely to report that their household is not caught up on rent,” Parrott said.

Other recommendations for housing security as the federal moratorium on evictions is set to expire next week, include continued emergency rental assistance.

Indianapolis has invested nearly $100 million in federal funding on rental assistance.