Why homelessness became the focus of a city director hearing

by Tyler Fenwick

Frustrations over a worsening homelessness crisis in Indianapolis were concentrated on one person during a City-County Council committee meeting April 16.

Andrew Merkley listened as service providers and people who have experienced homelessness asked councilors to reject his appointment as the director of the Office of Public Health and Safety.

At the same time, some who criticized Merkley said the problems extend beyond a single person.

“It’s not just Andrew,” said Tyler Slack, who along with his partner, Katelyn White, runs the service organization Allies For Humanity. “It’s all of us.”

The Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee unanimously voted to recommend Merkley, who previously served as the city’s director of homelessness policy and eviction prevention since 2021. Mayor Joe Hogsett appointed him as OPHS director in March following the resignation of Martine Romy Bernard-Tucker in December.

“I am not gonna hold a single individual responsible for a broken system,” Democratic Councilor Dan Boots said.
 

Merkley said one way he plans to limit homelessness is through eviction prevention. He touted the Tenant Advocacy Project, which offers free attorneys and court navigators to people facing eviction.

“Eviction is the front door to homelessness,” Merkley said.

Merkley still needs the support of the full City-County Council before his appointment is official.

If that happens, homelessness will be one of Merkley’s most pressing challenges.

Homelessness was up slightly in 2024, with about 1,700 people counted during an annual census. More than 300 people were living outside.

The problem becomes especially serious during the winter months, when extreme temperatures require a plan to get people inside.
 

Replaying winter contingency

Much of the criticism lobbed at Merkley during the council meeting was about the recent winter contingency plan for people experiencing homelessness.

The organization that previously organized the monthslong program backed out last year, saying the effort became too much to handle. Two weeks before winter contingency was supposed to start, service providers were scrambling and looking to the city for leadership.

That responsibility largely fell on Merkley.

So when a makeshift shelter for families didn’t come together until early December, most of the blame went to him.

“A great leader acknowledges not only their accomplishments, but their obstacles,” Brandon Kennedy, who worked with homeless families during winter contingency, told the council committee.
 

For his part, Merkley said families were in hotels before the shelter was available and that delays were partly because of a partnership falling through.

But even inside the shelter, some reported unsafe conditions.

Melonie Gluth, who said she was in the shelter with her two daughters, told committee members they had to take cold showers and that her kids couldn’t get consistent rides to school.

“I just hope that they are better prepared if you continue this program,” Gluth said, “because it did help me massively. But at the same time, it traumatized my children and myself.”
 

One of Gluth’s daughters, Isabella, said the shelter felt like a jail.

“I hope in the future, they can make the program more comfortable for families,” she said.

Merkley spoke with the family after the meeting and said there will be a report from the organization that operated the shelter.

Merkley also said the city has started working on plans for next winter.

The center of criticism

Merkley felt the brunt of everyone’s frustration.

“There are significant challenges with solving for homelessness,” he told Mirror Indy after the meeting. “And unfortunately, my nomination this evening I think brought light to that.”

Rabbi Aaron Spiegel, executive director of the Greater Indianapolis Multifaith Alliance, is a frequent critic of the city’s approach to homelessness.

He read from a letter sent to the committee before the meeting, telling councilors about “serious concerns” with Merkley’s appointment.
 

“The director must demonstrate leadership in fighting and protecting Marin County residents who are vulnerable,” Spiegel said. “In our years of doing housing advocacy together in Indianapolis, we have not seen this dynamic leadership Mr. Merkley.”

After the meeting, though, Spiegel found Merkley in the hallway leading out of the public assembly room.

“No hard feelings?” Spiegel asked.

Merkley chuckled.

“No, rabbi.”

Mirror Indy reporter Tyler Fenwick covers housing and labor. Contact him at 317-766-1406 or tyler.fenwick@mirrorindy.org. Follow him on X @ty_fenwick and Bluesky @tyfenwick.bsky.social.