Faith In Action Update

Faith in Action/Outreach
Written By St. Paul's Indy

Streets to Home Indy Initiative Update

On Saturday, January 11, Rabbi Dr. Aaron Spiegel and a representative from CHIP met with members of Indianapolis faith communities at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church to provide a progress report on the Streets to Home initiative.


The following information was shared:

  • Indianapolis has only 3.9% of its housing market available. (When a city has under 5% there is, or soon will be, a major housing problem.)

  • 50% of all Indianapolis renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.

  • 25% of Indy renters spent 50% or more of their income on housing.

  • 100% of senior renters spend 30% or more of their income on housing.

  • 90% of Indianapolis’ low-income citizens are housing cost burdened.
    Housing First is a proven approach to end homelessness.
    The goal for 2025/26 is to get homeless individuals off the streets.
    The goal for 2026/27 is to get the homeless out of shelters.
    The goal for 2027/28 is to keep people out of the system.
    Currently, three encampments are closed; a fourth site is nearly closed, and work will begin soon to close a fifth.
    The faith community is part of the philanthropic group and has raised $544,000. The goal was $270,000.
    The total cost for all three years is $50,000,000 dollars. There is still much work to do. The faith community sees this as a MORAL and ETHICAL mandate.

What can we do?

St. Paul’s Community Engagement team is currently developing a plan for collecting move In kit supplies during Lent, with kits to be delivered after Easter - more information on the plan is forthcoming.

Groups continue to try to criminalize homelessness. To learn more about SB 285 (legislation in the senate that would create a Class C Misdemeanor for sleeping outside), please click here to learn more and take action now online.

Find additional bill information/contacts below:


House Bill 1431 (House Courts and Criminal Codes Committee); Author, Doug Miller, H48@iga.in.gov or 317.234.9139; Committee Chair: Wendy McNamara, H76@iga.in.gov or 317.232.9802

Senate Bill 285 (Senate Judiciary Committee); Committee Chair: Cindi Carrasco S36@iga.in.gov or 317.232.9400

Please help to keep up the pressure for funding from the City of Indianapolis. Contact the Indy Action Coalition to help them build people power.

Click here to email Janie Frazier with questions.

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