According to Indiana University Public Policy Institute’s report, Homelessness in Indianapolis 2020 Marion County Point-In-Time Count, 1,588 people were counted as experiencing homelessness in Marion County on January 22, 2020.
More than 80 percent were unemployed. With the increase in unemployment as a result of COVID pandemic layoffs, there has probably been a considerable increase in these numbers.
The number of those with felony convictions almost doubled from the year before, reaching 24 percent. Since this survey was taken—due to early releases from Indiana Department of Correction facilities as well as from county jails in an effort to stem the spread of COVID by providing more space between inmates—we suspect that this number has also grown substantially.
The reason most often given for being chronically homeless was mental illness followed by substance abuse.
Also part of the homeless mix at any given time are veterans as well as women and children who were fleeing domestic violence, and teens who, at 1,8 aged out of the foster care system.
Although only 28 percent of the local population, more than 54 percent of homeless were black, and 42 percent were white
Unemployment, crime, substance abuse and mental illness are highly interrelated with homelessness, so fighting the root cause of poverty, which impacts all of these issues should, once again, help to drive down the number of those needing shelter:
What can you do to impact Homelessness in Indianapolis? Click HERE.
Resources
- A Collection of Solution-Oriented News Feature Stories Regarding Homelessness
- Homelessness in Indianapolis 2020 Marion County Point-In-Time Count, Indiana University Public Policy Institute, August 2020
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