An ordinance moving through the Indianapolis City-County Council hopes to address panhandling issues in the downtown area, and it's uncovered deep-seated disagreements about how to handle such a complicated issue.

The effort is one part of a recently-developed five-year plan to end homelessness in the city.

The councilors behind the proposal say it's meant to address aggressive panhandling. Some who oppose it say it criminalizes homelessness.

WFYI's Drew Daudelin sat down with Matthew Morton, a researcher on youth homelessness, to talk about traditional approaches to homelessness and what new research tells him about how it could change.

Some who support the ordinance say downtown panhandlers are creating safety concerns and hurting business.

The permanent supportive housing approach made national headlines in 2015, when Utah announced its housing initiative reduced homelessness by 91 percent.

The 32-page plan focuses on the creation of permanent housing for those experiencing homelessness.

Wheeler Mission hopes to raise awareness while raising money to expand its Women and Children's Shelter on Indianapolis' eastside.

The renovation will cost about $8.7 million, paid for by federal tax credits through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The pilot program, available to officers in the Downtown District, is part of Mayor Joe Hogsett's larger criminal justice reform effort.