CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS
ABOUT
The longer a person has been homeless, the harder it is to find a safe place to live, especially when there’s a mental or physical disability involved.
What does it mean to be considered chronically homeless?
When a person has…
experienced homelessness for at least one year or four different times within the past three years,
while living unsheltered or at an emergency shelter,
and has one or more disabling conditions, such as a mental health disorder, substance use disorder, a physical disability, or other chronic health condition,
that person is considered to be chronically homeless.*
*According to the definition adopted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Contributing Factors
People enduring chronic homelessness typically have complex and long-term health conditions, such as mental illness, substance use disorders, physical disabilities, or other medical conditions. In addition, many of these barriers to independence surfaced from societal traumas never diagnosed or addressed.
Once homeless, regardless of what immediately caused the loss of housing, it is difficult to regain that independence, and long or repeated episodes of homelessness are sure to be expected.
A Brief Timeline of Mental Health Care
Chronic Homelessness in Indianapolis
BY THE NUMBERS
Number of homeless individuals during Marion County’s annual Point In Time (PIT) Count in 2024.
Number of chronically homeless individuals during the 2024 PIT Count, representing a 133% increase since 2022.
Number of chronically homeless individuals found living unsheltered (60%) during the 2024 PIT Count.
Indianapolis
In 2024, there were 1,701 homeless individuals. 324 of those were chronically homeless, as compared to 139 in 2022. An increase of 133%.
Although only 19% of our homeless are chronic, they represent the highest users of emergency services (police, EMT, and hospital).
In 2022, IMPD Homeless Unit received over 300 complaints and assisted with over 100 camp cleanings.
From 2020-2022, the Indianapolis Office of Public Health and Safety and Department of Metropolitan Development collectively spent $17 million on costs for non-congregate shelter interventions.
Chronically Homeless Deaths in Indianapolis:
2020: 56
2021: 76
2022: 92
2023: 63
Chronic Homelessness at time of PIT Count (2016–2024)
Indiana / Midwest
Incarceration Costs
It costs an average of $52.61 per day ($19,202.65 per year) to keep an adult inmate incarcerated in the State of Indiana.
(Source: IN.gov website)
Homeless individuals are frequently arrested and incarcerated for minor (misdemeanor) offenses.
Health Care Costs
Average Emergency Room visit cost in Indiana = $1618.00.
In the midwest, between 2015-18, there were collectively 234 ER visits per 100 homeless persons each year, as opposed to 42 visits per 100 non-homeless persons per year.
(Source: Center for Disease Control and Prevention website)
Indiana Deinstutionalization
Patients in public mental hospitals in 1955= 11,151
Patients in public mental hospitals in 1994= 1,320
Actual deinstitutionalization rate (percentage)= 88.2%
On an annual basis, inpatient psychiatric commitment at a state-run facility can run close to $250,000.
(Source: HUD, "HUD 2019 Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Programs Homeless Populations and Subpopulations," Sept. 20. 2019)
U.S.
In 2014, over 84,000 individuals experienced chronic homelessness on any given night.
(Source: US Dept of Housing and Urban Development. 2014. The 2014 Annual Homeless Assessment Report [AHAR]).
In 2022, this number is now over 127,000 individuals.
A Recent History of Homelessness in Indianapolis
The release of an Indianapolis homelessness documentary in 2013, quickly followed by another in 2014 (also filmed in Indianapolis), caught the attention of the Indianapolis media. And what the city portrayed as a criminal act of trespassing and loitering was received by viewers as a humanitarian response of deep concern and a need to serve the communities documented.
Central Indiana residents quickly stepped into action. Several individuals came together to form faith-based nonprofit organizations providing triage through meals, clothing, and necessities.
City officials took notice. And with what felt like almost an overnight shift in attitude, reform began. Indianapolis passed new laws aimed at protecting the city's homeless. They began to adopt the national Housing First model, implemented by HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development) in 2009. Slowly, the two sides came together to form two teams that would collaborate in outreach to homeless individuals and encampments. Service providers started PBSO (Professionally Based Street Outreach), and FBSO (Faith Based Street Outreach) was formed by churches and faith-based organizations.
2018 brought about more reform. CHIP (the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention), the CoC (Continuum of Care), and the City of Indianapolis committed to a goal that “by 2023, individuals or families who become homeless in Indianapolis will spend no more than 30 days without permanent, safe, stable housing.” But as our Point in Time (PIT) counts reveal, not only is the homeless population in Marion County growing, but the chronically homeless population also continues to grow.
The Stakes are High
Sadly, there is not nearly enough housing through city programs to meet demand for our chronically homeless neighbors.
The housing provided is only temporary, with restrictions, and not often a safe or dignifying place to live. There are not consistent wrap-around services connected to the city’s housing solution to adequately care for the complicated mental and physical health needs of the chronically homeless. When a chronically homeless person is housed, they are often isolated away from any supportive community.
When confronted with the problem of chronic homelessness in our city, it can be uncomfortable and overwhelming even for the best-intentioned of us. But what if, instead of looking away, we looked directly into the eyes of this community?
We would surely see the same hopes and dreams we all share: a desire for love, validation, safety, and a better future. We would realize no one chooses their family or set of circumstances they’re born into. No one chooses mental illness, addiction, or homelessness. Yet, because of the brokenness of life’s circumstances, some will find themselves without a home or a supportive safety net.
Sanctuary Indy cares deeply about the problem of chronic homelessness in the city of Indianapolis. Our team has spent considerable time reaching out to this community, visiting encampments, listening and learning from their stories, celebrating their successes, and mourning their tragedies. In walking alongside these individuals, we’ve witnessed their struggle to access services beyond their most basic needs. Meeting these basic needs is very important. But we feel it’s time to move beyond sticking a hand out with only a blanket or a meal and to start offering a hand in, pulling the most vulnerable out of the cold and into a safe and loving environment.
This is where the hope for Sanctuary Indy was born. It goes beyond the initial need for both basic needs and insufficient housing. The Housing First model (which houses individuals before requiring them to seek treatment for mental health and addictions) adopted by HUD was a great first step to addressing homelessness. Indianapolis also follows this model. Our city is providing housing opportunities. But in many cases, it isolates the very individuals it seeks to help by housing them alone in an unfamiliar environment with a lack of consistent wrap-around services and healthy community. Mental wellness goes hand in hand with physical wellness.
Our model is not transactional.
It’s seeing the chronically homeless as worthy of investment. It’s providing housing that’s permanent and dignifying, with consistent wrap-around services in an intentional family-like community that allows individuals to be seen, known, and loved. This is the Sanctuary Indy difference.
Be part of the solution for Indy’s chronically homeless population!
Through our planning, we have determined that $4 million* is needed to develop our first Sanctuary Indy community. This budget includes $1 million to construct all of the supporting infrastructure and $3 million to build approximately 27 homes and necessary service buildings.
*Estimates based on current prices and may change in the future.
