INDIANAPOLIS — The City of Indianapolis has taken the unprecedented step of purchasing land to be the site of an innovative “Housing Hub” to serve individuals experiencing homelessness in the city. In partnership with RDOOR Housing Corporation, three parcels have been assembled in or around the 1000 block of East Georgia Street. The announcement of the Housing Hub location comes on the heels of the release of the 2023 Point-In-Time (PIT) Count of homeless individuals, which indicated an 8% year-over-year decline in homelessness in Marion County. The Point in Time count in January found 1,619 people without shelter, close to the pre-pandemic numbers. However, the number of chronically homeless individuals is rising, along with the number of unsheltered families and youths.
The Housing Hub would centralize city resources for neighbors experiencing homelessness, and would include the first publicly-constructed, low-barrier shelter in city history. This innovative and modern facility would also place Indianapolis at the forefront of future opportunities for state and federal partnerships.
The City has recently launched initiatives to help eradicate homelessness in Indianapolis. This included the City-County Council’s approval of funding to pilot a master leasing strategy. Once in place, this new housing model will create 60 new housing units that will be available for unsheltered individuals, with plans for at least 200 master-leased units to be made available citywide.
The city’s permanent supportive housing stock continues to grow, with $8 million in funding recently approved to create 110 new units of permanent supportive housing at Compass on Washington, St. Lucas Lofts, Providence Place, and Hanna Commons.
According to Indianapolis Continuum of Care data, since 2018, the administration has worked with community partners to expand rapid rehousing by 336% (598 units) and permanent housing by 89% (1190 units).
RDOOR Housing Corporation, formerly Merchants Affodable Housing Corp., moved its headquarters to Indianapolis in March. Since 1981, they have developed affordable multi-family housing and is poised to become one of the largest nonprofit providers of affordable housing in Indiana.
