Point in Time count finds a decrease in Indianapolis homelessness

An annual assessment of people experiencing homelessness in Indianapolis found an overall drop in numbers in 2023. 

The Point in Time Count found 1,619 people without a home on a single night in January.  The number is an eight percent drop from 2022, and close to pre-pandemic numbers.

But the number of people unsheltered that night is up by 77 percent.  The Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention, or CHIP, conducts the count. Executive Director Chelsea Haring-Cozzi said that’s a significant increase.

“People don't want to shelter in the traditional ways that they did before the pandemic, kind of this sense of large congregate sheltering,” Haring-Cozzi said. “I think COVID really highlighted some of the challenges with those models.”

This is the first year since the onset of COVID that the city has operated some sort of emergency shelter, such a hotel used at the height of the pandemic.

Haring-Cozzi said the number of families and unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness has also decreased after a spike last year.

“I know there's been some more targeted work around families and trying to intervene earlier,” Haring-Cozzi said, “a lot of focus on diversion really trying to prevent families from even entering homelessness.”

Rates of chronic homelessness are up. These people often have other conditions, including substance abuse and mental health issues.

Racial disparity continues to be an issue, with Black individuals making up over half of people experiencing homelessness in the city.

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

Contact WFYI city government and policy reporter Jill Sheridan at jsheridan@wfyi.org.